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Researchers from George Washington university institution of Public health and wellness as well as health and wellness services evaluated the effect that living with a dog can have on your health and wellness as well as published their results in the Journal of Physical activity as well as Health. As expected, having a dog to walk made a huge difference in people’s health. They compared physical activity as well as health and wellness danger factors for 399 dog owners who walked their dogs, 137 dog owners who didn’t walk their dogs, as well as 380 adults living in houses without a dog. As expected, dog owners who walked their dogs were more physically active as well as had lower body weight than dog owners who didn’t walk Fido or people without a dog.
Even after adjusting for differences in age as well as physical activity level, dog walkers were significantly healthier than people without dogs:
Diabetes was two as well as one-half times more typical among those without a dog.
People without a dog were 70 percent more likely to have high blood pressure as well as high cholesterol
People without a dog were almost 50 percent more likely to have depression
The authors of this research study concluded, “Because of the health and wellness benefits connected with dog walking, this activity should be motivated within neighborhoods as a technique of promoting as well as sustaining a healthy lifestyle.”
What if you’re not lucky sufficient to online with a dog? Are you just doomed to poorer health? absolutely not — research study has shown that walking somebody else’s dog is a fantastic motivator for sticking with an exercise program as well as creates fantastic health and wellness benefits, too. You can walk a neighbor’s dog or indication as much as be a dog walker at your regional animal shelter. utilize the in shape As Fido diary to assist you keep track of your walking progress.
Diary reproduced from in shape As Fido: comply with Your dog to much better health and wellness by Dawn A. Marcus, MD
So the next time you look at Fido, keep in mind he’s your live-in health and wellness booster. grab his leash as well as go for a walk!
Questions to ask before choosing to get a dog:
Is everybody in the home thinking about as well as dedicated to getting a dog?
Is there somebody at house who can reliably handle the obligation of taking care of a dog every day?
Will the dog be able to get sufficient everyday exercise? Can somebody provide the dog everyday walks? Is there a fenced yard, secure tie out, or runner for the dog?
Can you dedicate to making sure the dog is adequately trained? Do you have the time, motivation, as well as stamina to stick with a training program?
Will somebody be able to make sure the dog is housetrained as well as able to clean up any type of unforeseen mishaps in the home as well as droppings outside?
Does the person who will care for the dog have a temporary or steady health and wellness problem? If the condition is a degenerative as well as progressive illness, is there a second person who will likewise be accountable for taking care of the dog?
Do you have the additional money to pay for the dog—vet bills, food, boarding, grooming, as well as so on?
Make sure you can response “yes” to every concern before bringing a dog home.
Excerpted from The Power of Wagging Tails by Dawn A. Marcus, MD
health and wellness benefits of Pets