anthrozoology.org
Research in Human-Animal Interaction
Pets & exercise in humans
Regular dog-walking improves physical capacity in elderly patients after myocardial infarction.
Ruzic, Alen. Miletic, Bojan. Ruzic, Tatjana. Persic, Viktor. Laskarin, Gordana.
Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk reduction: supporting evidence, conflicting data and underlying mechanisms.
Arhant-Sudhir, K.; Arhant-Sudhir, R.; Sudhir, K.;
Access to off-leash parks, street pattern and dog walking among adults
McCormack, G. R.; Rock, M.; Sandalack, B.; Uribe, F. A.;
"I'm Just a'-Walking the Dog" - Correlates of Regular Dog Walking
Christian (nee Cutt), Hayley PhD; Giles-Corti, Billie PhD; Knuiman, Matthew PhD
Intrapersonal and environmental factors associated with dog walking (N = 483) were examined. A greater proportion of regular (80%) than irregular (59%) dog walkers met the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Owners who perceived greater social support and motivation from their dogs to walk, and who had access to a dog-supportive park within their neighborhood, were more likely to regularly walk with their dogs, even after adjustment for other well-known correlates of physical activity. The higher level of physical activity of regular dog walkers can be attributed to the additional walking these owners perform with their dogs.
Barriers and motivators for owners walking their dog: results from qualitative research.
Abstract
ISSUE ADDRESSED:
This qualitative research explored the relationship between dog ownership and dog-related, social environmental and physical environmental factors associated with walking with a dog.
Parenthood and factors that influence outdoor recreational physical activity from a gender perspective.
Sjogren, K.; Hansson, E. E.; Stjernberg, L.;
Dog ownership and adolescent physical activity.
Sirard, J. R.; Patnode, C. D.; Hearst, M. O.; Laska, M. N.;
Type 2 diabetes and dog walking: patients' longitudinal perspectives about implementing and sustaining physical activity
Peel, Elizabeth.Douglas, Margaret.Parry, Odette.Lawton, Julia
British Journal of General Practice.60(577):570-7, 2010 Aug.
BACKGROUND:
Physical activity is particularly important for people with type 2 diabetes, as evidence suggests that any reduction in sedentary time is good for metabolic health. AIM: To explore type 2 diabetes patients' talk about implementing and sustaining physical activity.
DESIGN OF STUDY:
Longitudinal, qualitative study using repeat in-depth interviews with 20 patients over 4 years following clinical diagnosis.
SETTING:
Patients were recruited from 16 general practices and three hospitals across Lothian, Scotland.
RESULTS:
Discussion, and salience, of physical activity was marginal in patient accounts of their diabetes management. Patients claimed to have only received vague and non-specific guidance about physical activity from health professionals, and emphasised a perceived lack of interest and encouragement. Aside from walking, physical activities which were adopted tended to attenuate over time. Patients' accounts revealed how walking a dog assisted this kind of activity maintenance over time.
Three main themes are highlighted in the analysis:
Living with companion animals, physical activity and mortality in a U.S. national cohort
Gillum, R. F.; Obisesan, T. O.;
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2010. 7: 6, 2452-2459.
Living with a canine companion is postulated to increase physical activity. We test the hypotheses that adults living with a canine companion have a higher level of physical activity and reduced mortality risk compared to those not living with a companion animal. A U.S. national health survey with longitudinal mortality follow-up studied 11,394 American men and women aged 40 years and over examined in 1988-1994 followed an average 8.5 years. Measurements at baseline included self-reported companion animals in the household, socio-demographics, health status, physical and biochemical measurements. Outcome measures were leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and death from all causes. Death during follow-up occurred in 3,187 persons. In bivariate cross-sectional analyses living with a dog was associated with more frequent LTPA and higher survival. In proportional hazards regression analysis, no significant interaction of age, gender or ethnicity with animals was found. After adjusting for confounding by baseline socio-demographics and health status at ages 40+, the hazards ratio (95% confidence limits) for living with a canine companion compared to no animals was 1.21 (1.04-1.41, p<0.001). After also controlling for health behaviors, blood pressure and body mass, C-reactive protein and HDL-cholesterol, the HR was 1.19 (0.97-1.47, NS). In a nationwide cohort of American adults, analyses demonstrated no lower risk of death independent of confounders among those living with canine or feline companions, despite positive association of canine companions with LTPA.
Family dog ownership and levels of physical activity in childhood: findings from the child heart and health study in England
Owen, C. G.; Nightingale, C. M.; Rudnicka, A. R.; Ekelund, U.; McMinn, A. M.; Sluijs, E. M. F. van; Griffin, S. J.; Cook, D. G.; Whincup, P. H.;
American Journal of Public Health. 2010. 100: 9, 1669-1671.
Dog ownership is associated with higher physical activity levels in adults; whether this association occurs in children is unknown. We used accelerometry to examine physical activity levels in 2065 children aged 9 to 10 years. Children from dog-owning families spent more time in light or moderate to vigorous physical activity and recorded higher levels of activity counts per minute (25; 95% confidence interval [CI]=6, 44) and steps per day (357; 95% CI=14, 701) than did children without dogs.
