The effects of a combined dietary and exercise intervention versus dietary intervention alone in chronically overweight and obese dogs enrolled in a weight loss program

Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder encountered in small animal medicine, affecting 25–40% of pet dogs and cats. Obesity has been linked to the development of a number of chronic health conditions in both humans and companion animals, potentially compromising the quality of life of affected individuals. Although previous studies in people strongly support obesity as a risk factor for all-cause mortality, it is only recently that a similar relationship has been found between poor physical fitness and mortality. Prospective studies have demonstrated the health benefits of improving physical fitness in both obese and non-obese people. The potential health benefits of routine exercise in companion animals, and its role in the treatment of canine obesity, have not yet been objectively evaluated.This study evaluated the effects of a combined exercise and diet intervention versus a diet intervention alone in 16 dogs enrolled in a 4-month weight loss program. The subjects were overweight or obese adults of medium to large breed. The dietary intervention consisted of a 30% restriction of the animals' previous caloric intake. The dogs in the combined dietary and exercise intervention group underwent the same dietary restriction and were walked for 45 minutes, three times a week. The subjects lost a mean of 9.3% of their initial body weight. No significant differences (p > 0.05) between the treatment groups were found with regard to changes in body weight, body condition score, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and insulin, triglyceride, and cholesterol concentrations. Although this study did not find a benefit to exercise as an adjunct to dietary restriction in a weight loss program, further studies are required to determine whether a higher intensity exercise program may be beneficial.Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-02, page: 0499.Adviser: Sherri Ihle