Pet Owners Make Strides in Weight Loss Efforts

Nothing makes exercise go by quicker than a good workout partner.

And some of the best ones bark and wag their tails.

Walking the dog is one of the simplest ways to fit a little more exercise into your routine. If your pup can handle it, a brisk 30-minute walk, five times a day, can help you meet the national guideline for weekly exercise.

In fact, people who regularly walk their dogs are 34 percent more likely to meet the national standard, according to a study from Michigan State University.

How much exercise is that?

According to the federal government, adults should get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise such as: walking briskly, dancing or working in the garden. An alternative recommendation is to perform 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity a week like jogging, high-impact aerobics or hiking uphill.

Ideally, you should perform some type of aerobic exercise for more than 10 minutes each time and not just in one workout but spread throughout the week.

It’s better for your dog, too.

Unfortunately, American pets have their own obesity epidemic.

A survey recently found that more than half of cats and dogs are overweight or obese. The study, presented by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, included more than 500 pets from 29 clinics.

Taking your dog for a walk is only fair.

Just like our own weight, we’re responsible for theirs, too.

Alice Warchol is a freelance health writer and fitness instructor.

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