Trudging through the snow might not sound like your idea of a good time, but a surprising study suggests you might want to grab your scarf and lace up your boots.
Researchers in Poland and the UK found that walking in the snow can have an unexpected effect on your mental health — and even change how you feel when you look in the mirror.
“Our findings demonstrate the importance of ensuring that everyone can access restorative natural environments, which may be a cost-effective way of promoting healthier body image,” senior author Viren Swami said in a statement.
The study, carried out last winter, involved 87 Polish women ages 19 to 55, with BMIs ranging from underweight to obese.
Before hitting the snow, participants took a series of tests to measure their body appreciation, self-compassion and sense of connection to nature.
Then came the main event. In small groups, the women were instructed to spend 40 minutes walking through a snowy woodland in Poland’s Silesia region.
The women were allowed to interact but weren’t told how to behave during the stroll. Once back inside, they retook the tests, and the results were striking.
Their body appreciation scores were “significantly higher” after the walk, and women with a naturally self-compassionate disposition saw even bigger gains.
“A body of evidence now exists showing that nature exposure — living close to, frequenting, or engaging with environments such as forests and parks — is associated with a range of physical and psychological wellbeing benefits,” said lead author Dr. Kamila Czepczor-Bernat.
“However, in contrast to previous studies which have focused on the impact of blue and green natural environments on body image outcomes, ours is the first to show the positive impact on body appreciation from spending time in snow-covered environments,” she continued.
It’s also the first study to show that these benefits can be reaped when spending time in nature with others, not just alone.
With Americans facing another three months of winter, and New Yorkers bracing for what could be the snowiest weekend in years, the findings could be welcome news.
Across the country, only 27% of people report having a positive body image, according to a 2022 study. More than 80% said they’ve had negative feelings about their appearance in the past.
Researchers have a few ideas about why walking in the snowy woodlands might help.
One is attention restoration theory, which suggests that spending time in nature gives the brain a break from everyday stress and helps restore mental energy. Since participants were walking during the study, the physical activity may have also shifted focus from how their bodies look to what their bodies can do.
“Natural environments help to restrict negative appearance-related thoughts and shift attention away from an aesthetic view of the body and toward greater appreciation of the body’s functionality,” Swami said.
Other research suggests that spending time in snowy, white landscapes can boost emotional well-being.
“There are significant benefits of being outside in nature, whatever the weather,” Swami said.
“Positive body image is important not only in its own right, but has other beneficial effects, including more positive psychological wellbeing,” he added.
People with negative body image are more likely to develop mental health conditions such as eating disorders or depression, with women and girls especially at risk, according to the Office on Women’s Health.
Low body image can also hurt self-esteem, which can impact your relationships, work or school performance, physical health and overall quality of life.
By contrast, those with a positive body image report less depression, higher self-esteem, and fewer dieting behaviors. They’re also more likely to practice self-care, including getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and even protect their skin from the sun.
