Pounding pavements with pooch betters top diet plans
Well I'm 64 pounds lighter and although Molly and Levi (my dogs) have been most supportive, I'll have to say I really don't think they have noticed I've lost all that much... LOL! On a serious note though, I will have to try this, nothing wrong with spending quality time with my little fur babies, and hey if it puts me closer to my goals, then what better way to do it! Of course I am speaking of Chihuahuas here, they simply will hear nothing of long walks when the temp falls below 45 degrees. I will say running up and down the four flights of stairs in our condo to take them "out" as often as Chihuahuas need to go (small bladders), has been beneficial for my buns o steal! Way to go Mizzou on a study well done :-)AP -
US researchers have a new lead in the fight against flab -- getting a dog and pounding the pavements can strip off more pounds than some of the best known weight loss programs.
A study by the University of Missouri-Columbia found that having a dog encouraged people to take regular walks -- one of the most profitable forms of exercise.
"Our goal was to look for ways to increase the average exercise regime," said Rebecca Johnson, director of the College of Veterinary Medicine's Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction.
"We found that being responsible for a pet, such as committing to walk a loaner dog, encouraged people who did not own dogs to walk more often and for longer periods," she said.
"Our first study group averaged a weight loss of 14 pounds during a one-year program."
Such a level of weight loss was greater than that reported by most US weight loss plans, according to the study.
Study subjects were encouraged to walk with dogs on a regular schedule, and started walking 10 minutes a day, three times a week, and eventually walked up to 20 minutes a day, five times per week.
Health experts monitored participants' body mass, weight, bone density, blood pressure and other indicators.
"Many of them told us that they didn't necessarily walk in the study because they knew it was good for their health; they enjoyed walking because they knew it was good for the animals," said Johnson.
US researchers have a new lead in the fight against flab -- getting a dog and pounding the pavements can strip off more pounds than some of the best known weight loss programs.
A study by the University of Missouri-Columbia found that having a dog encouraged people to take regular walks -- one of the most profitable forms of exercise.
"Our goal was to look for ways to increase the average exercise regime," said Rebecca Johnson, director of the College of Veterinary Medicine's Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction.
"We found that being responsible for a pet, such as committing to walk a loaner dog, encouraged people who did not own dogs to walk more often and for longer periods," she said.
"Our first study group averaged a weight loss of 14 pounds during a one-year program."
Such a level of weight loss was greater than that reported by most US weight loss plans, according to the study.
Study subjects were encouraged to walk with dogs on a regular schedule, and started walking 10 minutes a day, three times a week, and eventually walked up to 20 minutes a day, five times per week.
Health experts monitored participants' body mass, weight, bone density, blood pressure and other indicators.
"Many of them told us that they didn't necessarily walk in the study because they knew it was good for their health; they enjoyed walking because they knew it was good for the animals," said Johnson.
posted by Shane at 2:09 PM
<< Home