Can Dogs Help People Lose Weight…And Vice Versa?

Since 2008 Matthew Constantin, PhD has been closely following the scientific research in the field of obesity, diet and nutrition and been publishing relevant articles.

Are you overweight? 67 percent of American adults are, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Is your dog overweight? 44 percent of American dogs are also either overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.

The reasons are essentially the same for both humans and dogs - too many calories combined with not enough activity. It’s an epidemic problem in both species. But given that 39 percent of U.S. households have dogs, it could be an opportunity to tackle two healthcare problems with one solution. If we can leverage the dogs’ problem to get their humans moving more and eating less, and leverage the humans’ problem to get dogs doing the same, we could end up with some great mutual benefits.

Exercising With Your Pet - It’s Good for Both of You
This possibility was the guiding concept behind a recent research study conducted by researchers at the Wellness Institute of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago: “The PPET Study: People and Pets Exercising Together” ^[1]. This study compared two groups of overweight people - one who undertook a diet and exercise program in tandem with their overweight dogs, and a second group who dieted and exercised but had no dogs for company and social support.

The results were highly interesting. Both groups of people lost similar amounts of weight. Both groups achieved about the same improved level of daily physical activity. And the dogs really benefited - losing a significant percent of body weight and improving their body condition consistently. Owners exercising with their dogs was proven to be an effective, enjoyable and safe way for people and pets to lose weight and maintain weight loss.

The PPET study is the first one to demonstrate that people and pets can exercise together and achieve weight loss goals. According to the authors of the study, “consideration of social support for weight loss of family members, friends, and coworkers should be extended to include pets.” The study shows that the combination really does work. Not only will you lose weight, you will be doing a wonderful thing for your pet if you join with him or her in a regular diet and exercise program. Dr Kushner, who lead the PPET study, advises: “If an individual owns a dog, particularly one that is overweight, one should make the most of the dog in an exercise and weight loss program”

Benefits For Dog Owners
One of the most interesting incidental findings of the study was that the people who had dogs were getting significantly more physical activity than the people without dogs – and much of that activity was explicitly “dog-related.” This probably won’t surprise anyone who has a dog. Dogs pretty much demand a certain amount of physical activity from their people - at least a couple of times a day, and many people do take their pets for daily walks. As the study confirmed, dogs are indeed great motivators for people who are trying to get more exercise.

A similar study conducted in Canada found that dog owners spent more time in mild and moderate physical activities and walked an average of 300 minutes per week compared to non-dog owners who walked an average of 168 minutes per week ^[2]. Timperio and his team from Deakin University in Victoria, CA found that the odds of being overweight or obese were lower among younger children who owned a dog and they concluded that “Dog ownership may offer some protection from overweight among young children” ^[3]. Finally, a study conducted by John Hopkins Medical Institution found that, over a 3-year period, elderly dog walkers were approximately twice as likely as non-dog owners to maintain recommended walking levels ^[4].

Benefits For Dogs
According to Kansas State University veterinarian and assistant professor of clinical sciences Dr. Susan Nelson, dogs, like people, reap many benefits from exercise. There are physical and mental health advantages for the dog owner and the dog when they exercise together. As little as two extra pounds on a small dog or five extra pounds on a large dog is enough to put them at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, pancreatitis, arthritis, respiratory problems, urinary tract problems and an overall reduced life expectancy - many of the same risks obese people face, in fact.

The PPET Study did not examine in any detail exactly what kind or level of activity the people were engaging in with their dogs. It seems very likely that even greater results could be obtained for both people and their dogs if they adopt a somewhat more ambitious definition of “exercise.” Veterinarians and dog lovers who are concerned about canine obesity urge dog owners to develop their own daily exercise routines that gradually increase in intensity and length. Instead of a leisurely half-hour stroll through the park, aim for a program that will give your dog an aerobic workout - enough to make him pant and leave him a little fatigued by the time you get home.

What it takes to achieve this varies a lot by size, breed, age and condition. It’s also likely to require a little bit of discipline and training to teach your pup not to linger at every interesting smell and sight, but to keep moving along with you. To achieve an aerobic workout for your dog, you may need to step up your own pace to a brisker walk or even a job—extra benefits for you too!

Before you start on a more demanding exercise program for either yourself or your dog, it’s a good idea to check with your respective doctors to make sure you are not going to be overstressing your sedentary systems too much or too quickly. But it’s definitely worth the effort for both of you. And your dog will love you for it.

Scientific References
1. The PPET Study: People and Pets Exercising Together. Robert F. Kushner, Dawn Jackson Blatner, Dennis E. Jewell, and Kimberly Rudloff, Obesity 2006; Vol. 14, No. 10

2. Relationship among dog ownership and leisure-time walking in western Canadian adults. Brown SG, Rhodes RE. Am J Prev Med. 2006; 30: 131– 6.

3. Is dog ownership or dog walking associated with weight status in children and their parents? Timperio A, Salmon J, Chu B, Andrianopoulos N. Health Promot J Austr. 2008
Apr; 19(1):60-3.

4. Dog ownership, walking behavior, and maintained mobility in late life. Thorpe RJ Jr, Simonsick EM, Brach JS, Ayonayon H, Satterfield S, Harris TB, Garcia M, Kritchevsky SB. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006 Sep; 54(9): 1419-24.

Matthew Constantin, PhD, is a medical researcher with a specific interest in the field of obesity treatment and weight loss. Interestingly, the same factors that have led to human obesity underlie the growing prevalence of obesity among companion pets. Matt is fascinated by studies that show the role of dogs in providing social support and how the human companion animal bond can be used to fight the dual (dogs and humans) obesity epidemic. His website, devoted to weight loss program reviews, publishes relevant scientific findings.