Metabolic syndrome (MetS) affects up to 30% of the adult population (Noubiap et al., 2022) and is characterized by the presence of at least 3 of the following: high blood pressure and triglycerides levels, hyperglycemia, low HDL-cholesterol, and abdominal obesity. Linked with urbanization and a sedentary lifestyle, it is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and premature death. Due to its relevance and prevalence, many strategies have been developed to cope with it, mostly based on medication and lifestyle changes including diet. Nature-based Therapies (NbT) have been proposed for both the prevention and treatment of MetS, because they are easily accessible, free (or very inexpensive), and are associated with a range of psychophysiological, social, and environmental benefits. To explore these possibilities in more detail, we conducted a two-arm randomized intervention vs. waitlist-controlled study (n = 68 so far, final target end October 2025 = 100). The intervention consisted of a 5-week nature-based mindfulness intervention in Padua's urban parks consisting of three 1-hr sessions a week alternating light walking and mindfulness exercises in guided (first week) and then self-directed group sessions (weeks 2 to 5), ensuring one guided session per week. Pre, post and delayed post (+ 5 weeks) measures of health-related quality of life and biopsychosocial resilience were taken and compared across groups. The talk will present headline results of the efficacy of the intervention as well as further data such as wider social acceptability of the intervention, possible impact on environmental issues and equity. The discussion will focus on the potentialities of NbT to prevent and mitigate diseases in the general population mostly in urban areas where sedentary lifestyles are more frequent and contact with nature reduced.