If you need some motivation to get out and walk, you may want to consider adopting a dog. Sixty-percent of dog owners get enough exercise to meet national recommendations for physical activity according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. That makes dog owners three times more likely meet theUSgovernment recommendations of 150 minutes of moderate to rigorous physical activity per week than non-dog owners.
Dog walking didn’t account for all of the dog owner’s activity in this study, but added to it. Owners reported a range of time spent walking their canine friends from less than an hour a week to over 3 ½ hours a week. The take home message is that even small bouts of exercise add up and can make a difference—if the wagging tail of a pooch helps you do this, consider giving one a good home.
Read the entire Medscape Today article.
