Pets & exercise in humans

Regular dog-walking improves physical capacity in elderly patients after myocardial infarction.

anthrozoology — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:24:41 +1100

Ruzic, Alen. Miletic, Bojan. Ruzic, Tatjana. Persic, Viktor. Laskarin, Gordana.

Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk reduction: supporting evidence, conflicting data and underlying mechanisms.

anthrozoology — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:32:14 +1100

Arhant-Sudhir, K.; Arhant-Sudhir, R.; Sudhir, K.;

Access to off-leash parks, street pattern and dog walking among adults

anthrozoology — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:24:55 +1100

McCormack, G. R.; Rock, M.; Sandalack, B.; Uribe, F. A.;

"I'm Just a'-Walking the Dog" - Correlates of Regular Dog Walking

anthrozoology — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:45:13 +1000

Family & Community Health:

January/March 2010 - Volume 33 - Issue 1 - p 44-52

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.

anthrozoology — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:41:07 +1000

Health Promotion Journal of Australia

2008 Aug;19(2):118-24.

Cutt HE, Giles-Corti B, Wood LJ, Knuiman MW, Burke V.

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.

anthrozoology — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:02:32 +1000

Sjogren, K.; Hansson, E. E.; Stjernberg, L.;

Dog ownership and adolescent physical activity.

anthrozoology — Mon, 23 May 2011 09:58:39 +1000

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

anthrozoology — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:29:04 +1100

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

anthrozoology — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:13:33 +1100

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

anthrozoology — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:12:30 +1100

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.

Pets &amp; exercise in humans