So you and your dog are both a little-bit, er, chubby? A new study claims there's success when you exercise together. From Yahoo:
The P-PET program is proven to be a safe, effective, and enjoyable way for people and pets to lose weight and maintain weight loss. By participating in a weight loss program with your pet, you can improve the quality of life for you and your pet through increased exercise, a strengthened human-animal bond, and a fun and motivating way to trim down together.Over 60 percent of adult Americans are now overweight or obese, and an estimated 30 million cats and dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese-that's 25 percent of the pet population! To combat the obesity epidemic, both public health professionals and veterinarians endorse a proactive approach that includes adoption of healthy changes in diet and physical activity.
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Over the course of the 12-month study, both people and dogs lost weight and kept it off: people lost an average of 11 pounds (approximately 5 percent of their initial body weight) and dogs lost an average of 12 pounds (approximately 15.6 percent of their initial body weight). The maximum weight loss for dogs was 35 pounds; for people, the maximum loss was 51 pounds. Participants gained the confidence and the motivation to stick to a specific diet and exercise strategies and succeed at weight loss-not just for the moment but for the long term.