About this trial
The goal of this randomized crossover trial is to compare the differences in psychological and physiological effects of walking in two different outdoor environments (urban/suburban commercial environments vs. urban/suburban nature areas/preserves) in adults with prediabetes. The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Do psychological measures of stress, anxiety, and affect improve more in one type of outdoor environment over the other? * Do physiological measures of stress improve more in one type of outdoor environment over the other?
As this is a crossover trial, participants will serve as their own controls. Researchers will compare both the psychological and physiological effects walking in the two types of outdoor environments.
Participants will:
* Walk 150-minutes per week for six weeks in each of the two outdoor conditions. * Visit the clinic four times, including before and after each six-week walking period. * Collect saliva samples immediately proceeding or following the four clinic visits. * Return to their pre-study level of physical activity for a 5-week washout period between each of the two walking interventions.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
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.
Disqualifiers
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.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Nature-based Walking
- Built-environment/Commercial Walking
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
University of Minnesota
Lead sponsor
Northwestern University
Collaborator