Why Metabolic Health Research
This initiative lays the foundation for a new frontier in mental health
If metabolic dysfunction is a root cause of mental illness, then outdoor programming may be one of the most effective and accessible forms of treatment. If wilderness experience is linked to measurable improvements in metabolism and mood, this research could help establish outdoor therapy as a scientifically validated model of integrative care.
When people live and work in the wilderness for extended periods of time clarity returns, anxiety softens, mood stabilizes, and people come alive again. Now, science may finally be able to explain why. Emerging research shows a powerful connection between metabolic health and mental health, suggesting that metabolic dysfunction may play a causal role in conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, cognitive decline, and more.
Why Wilderness Therapy
Outdoor living naturally integrates interventions known to improve metabolic health. Wilderness programs activate the full biological system in a way that is difficult to replicate indoors. In the field we see it every day, and this research seeks to measure it.
Key components of wilderness therapy that support metabolic health include:
Daily movement, hiking, and physical engagement with the land
Nutrient-dense, whole-food meals prepared on trail
Restoration of sleep and circadian rhythms through natural light exposure
Social connection, shared hardship, belonging, and community
Meaning-making, purpose, awe, and emotional grounding
Digital detox, reduced stimulation, and increased sunlight
If wilderness therapy truly improves metabolic health—and if metabolic health drives mental health—then this research could redefine the role wilderness therapy could play in the field of mental health treatment going forward.
Our Research Approach
We are partnering with multiple wilderness, nature-based, and adventure therapy programs across North America to collect biological, biometric, and psychological data from participants over time.
Biological samples will be collected and mental health questionnaires will be administered at four points throughout the program:
Entry
Midway
Completion
Three months post-graduation
Together, these measures offer a multidimensional view of how outdoor immersion restores metabolic balance - the foundation of mental and emotional health.
What We Measure
Biological Data
Blood and urine biomarkers for glucose regulation, inflammation, mitochondrial function, micronutrients, and hormones.
Biometric Data
Continuous monitoring (via wearable technology such as Oura Rings) to track sleep, stress, heart-rate variability, and recovery.
Psychological Wellbeing
Validated self-report and clinician tools assessing mood, anxiety, resilience, and quality of life.
Help us show the world that nature heals
For decades, guides and therapists have witnessed transformation in the outdoors; now we have the opportunity to prove, with measurable data, that nature itself is a powerful catalyst for healing. By contributing to this study, you help bridge the gap between anecdote and evidence, between intuition and science. Together, we can show the world that outdoor living isn’t just good for the soul, it’s medicine for the mind and body.