Physical activity, weight status, and neighborhood characteristics of dog walkers

Prev Med. 2008 Sep;47(3):309-12. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.05.007. Epub 2008 May 16.

Abstract

Objective: This study examined how demographics, physical activity, weight status, and neighborhood characteristics varied among households with and without dogs.

Method: Participants aged 20 to 65 years (n=2199, 52% male, 75% white, mean age=45) were recruited from 32 neighborhoods in the Seattle, WA and Baltimore, MD regions during 2002-2005. Dog ownership, dog walking, education, height, weight, and family income were self-reported. Minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were measured objectively by 7-day accelerometry.

Results: Dog walking was associated with a higher proportion of participants who met national recommendations for MVPA (53%) when compared to those who had but did not walk their dog (33%) and to non-dog owners (46%). There were significantly fewer obese dog walkers (17%) when compared to both owners who did not walk their dogs (28%) and non-owners (22%). Dog owners who walked their dogs were more likely to live in high-walkable neighborhoods when compared to dog owners who did not walk their dogs.

Conclusion: Dog walking may promote physical activity and contribute to weight control. Dog walking appears to be a mechanism by which residents of high-walkable neighborhoods obtain their physical activity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic*
  • Baltimore
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Body Weight
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dogs*
  • Environment Design
  • Environmental Health
  • Female
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity*
  • Obesity / prevention & control
  • Overweight / prevention & control
  • Quality of Life
  • Residence Characteristics*
  • Walking*
  • Washington