American scientists have discovered a way to combat muscle atrophy: owning a dog and walking it can help you shed more pounds than some of the best weight-loss programs available.
A study from the University of Missouri-Columbia found that dog ownership encourages people to walk more, which is one of the most effective forms of exercise.
“Our goal is to find ways to increase average physical activity levels,” said Rebecca Johnson, director of the Human-Animal Interaction Research Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
“We found that taking responsibility for a pet, such as walking a neighbor’s dog, motivates non-dog owners to walk more frequently and for longer durations,” she explained.
“The first group we studied lost an average of 6.3 kg during the one-year program.” This weight loss is significantly greater than that of most weight-loss programs in the United States, the study indicated.
Participants were encouraged to walk their dogs on a regular schedule, starting with 10 minutes a day, three times a week, and gradually increasing to 20 minutes a day, five times a week. Health experts monitored weight, bone density, blood pressure, and other indicators.
“Many participants stated that they didn’t necessarily need to walk for the sake of the study because they already knew it was good for their health; they participated because they knew it was beneficial for the animal,” Johnson shared.
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