People who already have a pet should know the enormous benefits involved, both for them and for us.
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Do you also know that the benefits of having a pet include improving health and well-being, as well as preventing and treating obesity?
Several studies have documented that having a furry friend around can bring a number of health benefits not just to the pet, but also to the human side of the equation. Check out how!
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Cardiovascular benefits
In 2013, the American Heart Association (AHA) published a scientific statement talking about the many cardiovascular benefits of having a pet.
These include maintaining heart health as well as reducing risk factors that result in cardiovascular disease.
The AHA noted that some studies have shown that owning a pet can lower blood pressure.
Other studies have looked at cholesterol levels in people who have dogs as pets and found that they have more favorable cholesterol profiles than those who don’t have a dog.
The research also found that people who don’t have a dog are more likely to use products that contain tobacco (cigarettes, for example) than those who have a dog.
Still other studies have found that having a pet reduces stress reactivity.
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Thus, having a pet appears to have benefits in terms of reducing common risk factors for heart disease and stroke such as tobacco use, high blood pressure, stress and high cholesterol.
Furthermore, having a pet actually seems to be a benefit for those who already have heart disease.
In one study, owning a dog was strongly associated with decreased mortality from heart disease, showing that a person who owns a dog is four times more likely to survive a heart attack over time than someone who does not own a dog. .
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Pets and physical activity
Another way that pets improve cardiovascular health, as well as treat and prevent obesity, is through increased physical activity.
Most studies have shown that people who care for a pet tend to be more physically active. Dogs seem to be the ones that most encourage physical activity.
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A study conducted in Canada found that people who own a dog walk an average of 300 minutes a week, while those who don’t own a dog walk approximately 168 minutes.
It was also observed that the obligation to take care of their dogs is a motivating factor for most people.
Other studies have looked at the change in human behavior after adopting a pet.
It found that people who adopted a dog experienced a significant increase in their physical activity levels, mainly in the form of more frequent and longer leisure walks.
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Pets and obesity
Several studies have shown that having a pet can play an important role in both preventing and treating obesity.
Companion animals can provide the encouragement and motivation needed to complete a weight loss program, for example.
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Other studies have shown that walking with dogs may be associated with a lower incidence of obesity.
In a large study, people who walked their dogs were much more likely to comply with recommendations for physical activity.
All of this results in a lower body mass index (BMI), with lower rates of overweight and obesity.
Take care of your pet at the same time as you take care of your health!
