1
|
Barrett B, Walters S, Checovich MM, Grabow ML, Middlecamp C, Wortzel B, Tetrault K, Riordan KM, Goldberg S. Mindful Eco-Wellness: Steps Toward Personal and Planetary Health. Glob Adv Integr Med Health 2024; 13:27536130241235922. [PMID: 38410151 PMCID: PMC10896055 DOI: 10.1177/27536130241235922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Rising greenhouse gas levels heat the earth's surface and alter climate patterns, posing unprecedented threats to planetary ecology and human health. At the same time, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease have reached epidemic proportions across the globe, caused in part by decreases in physical activity and by over-consumption of carbon-intensive foods. Thus, interventions that support active transportation (walking or cycling rather than driving) and healthier food choices (eating plant-based rather than meat-based diets) would yield health and sustainability "co-benefits." Emerging research suggests that mindfulness-based practices might be effective means toward these ends. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we have developed a mindfulness-based group program, Mindful Eco-Wellness: Steps Toward Healthier Living. Loosely based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, our curriculum teaches mindfulness practices in tandem with sustainability principles, following weekly themes of Air, Water, Food, Energy, Transportation, Consumption, Nature Experience, and Ethics. For example, the "Air" class offers participants practice in guided breath meditations while they learn about the benefits of clean air. The theme of "Food" is presented through mindful eating, accompanied by educational videos highlighting the consequences of food production and consumption. "Transportation" includes walking/movement meditations and highlights the health benefits of physical activity and detriments of fossil-fueled transportation. Pedagogical lessons on energy, ecological sustainability, and the ethics of planetary health are intertwined with mindful nature experience and metta (loving-kindness) meditation. Curricular materials, including teaching videos, are freely available online. Pilot testing in community settings (n = 30) and in group medical visits (n = 34) has demonstrated feasibility; pilot data suggests potential effectiveness. Rigorous evaluation and testing are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Barrett
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sarah Walters
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Mary M. Checovich
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Maggie L. Grabow
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Cathy Middlecamp
- Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Beth Wortzel
- Harmonia Center for Psychotherapy, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kaitlin Tetrault
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kevin M. Riordan
- Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Simon Goldberg
- Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| |
Collapse
|