RESEARCH

The Tree Is My Anchor: A Pilot Study on the Treatment of BED through Nature-Based Therapy

A pilot study compared nature-based therapy to support group meetings for treating binge eating disorder. The results showed that both interventions led to improvements, but the nature-based therapy group had more significant positive outcomes and participants found the outdoor setting beneficial for their therapeutic process.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Eating Disorders

Setting or Context: Public/Botanical Gardens

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Improved Stress Management, Increased Self-Efficacy

Allied Profession Intersections: Behavioral Therapy, Counselling

Type of Activity: Forest/Natural Area Immersion, Mindfulness/Visualizations

Evidence Type: Randomized Controlled Trials, Qualitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Standardized Assessment Tools

Access: Free

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Summary

This study examined the potential of using nature-based therapy (NBT) to treat binge eating disorder (BED). The researchers compared two groups: one that participated in a 12-week NBT program in a therapy garden, and another that attended support group meetings. The NBT program combined outdoor activities and exercises with a form of cognitive therapy, while the support group meetings focused on social support. The study measured changes in binge eating episodes, psychological well-being, and self-esteem before and after the interventions.

Both groups showed improvements in all measured areas, but the NBT group had more significant results. Participants in the NBT group reported that being in nature helped them feel calmer and more present, making the therapy more accessible and easier to apply in daily life. They also developed personal connections with natural objects, which served as anchors or metaphors for their therapeutic process. However, the researchers noted that the small sample size means these results should be interpreted cautiously.

Link

Corazon, S.S., Sidenius, U., Vammen, K.S. et al. (2018). The Tree Is My Anchor: A pilot study on the treatment of BED through nature-based therapy. Int J Environ Res Public Health., 15(11), 2486.

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