According to Dr. Robert Kushner, MD, a human obesity expert and professor of medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, dogs make great workout partners. Research has shown that it's easier to stay with an exercise program if you have a buddy. Dogs make the best exercise partner since they won't make excuses not to walk or run. Who can resist those big brown eyes looking expectantly as your dog waits for his evening walk?
Dr. Kushner co-authored a study a few years ago to see if pets and people could help each other lose weight. The answer was yes. Published in the journal Obesity Management, the study compared weight loss of overweight people paired with an obese dog to overweight people who participated alone. They were encouraged to walk for 30 minutes three times a week. Those paired with dogs were slightly more active than those without and after a year lost an average of 11 pounds or 4.7 percent of their body weight. The dogs lost an average of 12 pounds or 15 percent of their body weight.
I find this very encouraging news. Make a commitment to your dog[s]. Walking will benefit you both! Organize a group in your neighborhood for walking your dogs. This is also a great way to socialize your dog[s] and get to know your neighbors.
