Actively Recruiting
Effects of Walking in Greenspace and the Built Environment in Adults With Prediabetes: A Randomized Crossover Trial
Led by University of Minnesota · Updated on 2025-09-22
216
Participants Needed
3
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Minnesota
Lead Sponsor
N
Northwestern University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating the psychological and physiological effects of walking in two types of outdoor environments—urban/suburban nature areas (greenspace) versus urban/suburban commercial areas (built environment)—in adults with prediabetes. This randomized crossover trial aims to determine whether stress, anxiety, and mood improve more in one environment compared to the other. Participants will serve as their own controls to compare the effects of walking in these settings on stress and health markers. Participants will be randomized to walk for six weeks in either a nature-based green environment or a built commercial gray environment, followed by a five-week washout period, then switch to the other environment for another six weeks. They will walk three to five times per week for 30 to 50 minutes each session, totaling 150 minutes weekly at moderate intensity. This crossover design allows each participant to experience both walking environments. During the study, participants will visit the clinic four times: before and after each six-week walking period. Assessments include psychological measures of anxiety, stress, mood, and restorativeness taken before and after walks in weeks 4, 7, 15, and 18. Physiological measures include heart rate variability during walks and salivary cortisol collected near clinic visits. Other data collected include ambient particulate matter exposure and cardiometabolic risk factors. Researchers will monitor adherence and health outcomes throughout the trial, which is expected to last several months per participant.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Effects of Walking in Greenspace and the Built Environment in Adults With Prediabetes: A Randomized Crossover Trial
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age between 25 and 64 years
- Overweight or obese with BMI 20.0-39.9 kg/m2 by self-report and 20.0-41.9 kg/m2 by measurement
- Documented prediabetes diagnosis within one year by lab tests or study screening lab
- Currently exercising 100 minutes or less per week at moderate to vigorous intensity
- No exercise contraindications per Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
- Stable weight over the past 3 months with less than 10% change
- Not pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding
- Willing to maintain current diet and exercise habits aside from study protocol
- Owns a smartphone and able to use Garmin Connect app
- Able to speak and understand English
- Any income level and race/ethnicity
You will not qualify if you...
- Younger than 25 or older than 64 years
- BMI less than 20 or greater than or equal to 42
- HbA1c level below 5.7% or above 6.4%
- Currently exercising more than 100 minutes per week
- Exercise contraindications per Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
- Physical or mental disability preventing adherence
- Past or current diabetes diagnosis or use of diabetic medications
- History of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke
- Current cancer or heart disease treatment (except lipid and hypertension meds)
- Recent or planned medication changes affecting study outcomes
- Use of medications interfering with autonomic nervous system
- Current or recent tobacco or nicotine use
- Excessive alcohol or recreational drug use
- Unstable weight with more than 10% change in last 3 months
- Recent or planned major surgery or bariatric surgery within 2 years
- Within one year postpartum, currently pregnant, or breastfeeding
- Unwilling to comply with randomization or maintain diet/exercise habits
- Participating in another interventional trial
- Previously randomized in this study
AI-Screening
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Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 6 weeks
Participants walk three to five times per week for 30-50 minutes per walk, totaling 150 minutes per week, at moderate intensity in a nature-based, or 'green', urban environment.
4 assessment walks occurring in weeks 4 and 6 of the intervention
Duration - 5 weeks
Participants have a break from walking interventions to prevent carryover effects between interventions.
No visits
Duration - 6 weeks
Participants walk three to five times per week for 30-50 minutes per walk, totaling 150 minutes per week, at moderate intensity in a built-environment/commercial, or 'gray', urban environment.
4 assessment walks occurring in weeks 4 and 6 of the intervention
Trial Site Locations
Total: 3 locations
1
Lake Forest Hospital
Lake Forest, Illinois, United States, 60045
Actively Recruiting
2
Central DuPage Hospital
Winfield, Illinois, United States, 60190
Actively Recruiting
3
Epidemiological Clinical Research Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55415
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Sarah Rydell, MPH
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
CROSSOVER
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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