{"id":19248,"date":"2013-11-21T19:40:11","date_gmt":"2013-11-22T09:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/?p=19248"},"modified":"2016-01-15T16:28:43","modified_gmt":"2016-01-16T00:28:43","slug":"new-texas-am-study-geocaching-improves-physical-and-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/2013\/11\/new-texas-am-study-geocaching-improves-physical-and-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"New Texas A&M Study: Geocaching Improves Physical and Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GEAR<\/a><\/p>\n

1,000 geocachers volunteered to be part of the first ever major study of geocaching and its effect on health. The 14-month Texas A&M study called\u00a0Geocaching for Exercise and Activity Research<\/a> (GEAR) launched in January of 2013. The first set of results from the study were presented on November 5 at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association in Boston.<\/p>\n

Each of the participants were given devices to track their movement and a logbook to record their level of geocaching intensity. The first results showed the effects of regular geocaching. Researcher Whitney says, “The GEAR study has identified an association between geocaching and improved health.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another researcher, Garney, goes on to say, \u201cGEAR participants who report geocaching once a week or more are more likely to meet national guidelines for physical activity and are more likely to report good <\/i>or very good <\/i>health status compared to those who geocache less frequently.\u201d In addition, research showed that geocachers reported fewer days of poor physical and mental health compared to state level data.<\/p>\n

\"Follow
Follow Geocaching on Instagram for more epic and inspirational geocaching pics http:\/\/instagram.com\/gogeocaching<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These findings are still preliminary, but nevertheless we’re excited about them. The study concludes in early 2014 and final data will be analyzed and presented later that year.<\/p>\n

The health benefits of geocaching are often the subject of emails to Geocaching HQ. Have you lost weight geocaching or sharpened your mental skills? Share your stories about improving your health through geocaching in the comments below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1,000 geocachers volunteered to be part of the first ever major study of geocaching and its effect on health. The 14-month Texas A&M study called\u00a0Geocaching for Exercise and Activity Research (GEAR) launched in January of 2013. The first set of results from the study were presented on November 5 at the annual meeting of the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[134,82,97,137],"tags":[124,154],"series":[],"class_list":["post-19248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","category-geocaching-com-videos","category-maker-madness","category-news","tag-geocaching-promotions","tag-souvenirs"],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/feed\/podcast\/inside-geocaching-hq-podcast","embedCode":"

New Texas A&M Study: Geocaching Improves Physical and Mental Health<\/a><\/blockquote>