Nature walks may lower stress in prediabetes better than city strolls
NCT ID NCT06365723
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at whether walking in a natural setting (like a park) is better for reducing stress, anxiety, and improving mood compared to walking in a built-up commercial area. 216 adults with prediabetes will walk 150 minutes per week for six weeks in each environment, with a break in between. Researchers will measure stress hormones, heart rate, and mood to see which setting helps more.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- walking in nature-based or built-environment urban settings
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could show that simply walking in a park or nature area reduces stress and anxiety more than walking in a commercial area for people with prediabetes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a behavioral study with subjective measures, so results may be subtle or not clearly favor one environment. The findings may not apply to people without prediabetes or in different climates.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 216 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jun 2024
- Expected to finish
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Nov 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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25 to 64 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 25-64 years old. * Classified as overweight or obese with BMI 20.0-39.9 kg/m2 per self-report and a BMI of 20.0- 41.9 kg/m2 upon actual measure. * Documentation\* of a PreD diagnosis within one year of enrollment by physician or primary care provider based on lab tests showing a fasted blood glucose of 100-125 mg/dL, a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test of 140-199 mg/dL, or an HbA1c level of 5.7%-6.49%271; OR a study screening lab value of HbA1C within the aforementioned range. * Currently engaged in ≤100 min/week of moderate to vigorous exercise -confirmed via a 7-day activity recall. * No exercise contraindications as assessed by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) -this Questionnaire involves seven "yes" or "no" questions regarding an individual's health status. Answering "yes" to any one of these questions may require a prospective participant to acquire a written doctor's note stating they can safely participate in the trial's exercise intervention. The participant would not be enrolled until this doctor's note is received. * Stable weight over the last 3 months (less than 10% change). * Not currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or currently breastfeeding. * Willing to maintain current dietary and exercise habits, aside from any changes to be made per the study exercise protocol. * Must own a smartphone and be willing and able to download the Garmin Connect app * Ability to speak and understand English. * Any level of income * Any race/ethnicity Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals \<25 or \>64: younger individuals may have not yet reached physiological maturity and in whom PreD prevalence is low; older individuals are more likely to have contraindications to PA and other comorbidities. * BMI \<20 or ≥42. * Individuals with an HbA1c level \<5.7% or \>6.4%. * Currently engaged in \>100 min/wk of PA. * Individuals with contraindications to exercise participation as indicated by the PAR-Q. * A self-reported physical/mental disability that would prevent them from being able to adhere to the intervention. * Past or current diagnosis of Diabetes (Type 1, 1.5 or 2) or use of diabetic medications (e.g. medications to control blood sugar) * Any history of a cardiovascular disease event (e.g. heart attack, ablation, pacemaker, stroke) * Current treatment for cancer or heart disease (lipid and hypertensive medications acceptable but will be tracked closely). * Any change within the last 3 months, or anticipated changes, of any medications that would affect study outcomes (e.g. medications for lipids, blood pressure, anxiety, depression) * The use of any medication that significantly interferes with the autonomic nervous system * Current tobacco or nicotine users, or those who have quit within the last six months * Excessive alcohol (on average\>1 drinks/day for women and \>2 drinks/day for men) or excessive recreational drug use (reported usage of once a week or more). * Unstable weight over the last three months (\>10% change). * Those with major surgery planned or recent history of bariatric surgery (within last 2 years) or a history of other medical interventions that would interfere with study outcomes * Currently within one-year postpartum, currently pregnant, or planning to become pregnant during the study period. * Currently breastfeeding. * Unwilling to comply with study randomization procedures. * Unwilling to maintain current dietary and exercise habits, aside from any changes to be made per the study exercise protocol. * Current participation in another interventional clinical trial. * Previous randomization in this study.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
3 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Central DuPage Hospital
RECRUITINGWinfield, Illinois, 60190, United States
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Epidemiological Clinical Research Center
RECRUITINGMinneapolis, Minnesota, 55415, United States
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Lake Forest Hospital
RECRUITINGLake Forest, Illinois, 60045, United States
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