The study conducted on 3 people that shows how having a dog helps to keep fit and healthy even after a certain age
The study conducted on 3 people that shows how having a dog helps to keep fit and healthy even after a certain ageHaving a dog it is not only a way of guaranteeing unconditional love but also a great choice for health. Walking with our 4-legged friend forces us to do physical activity every day and this is beneficial for everyone, including the elderly.
A new study conducted by experts from the University of East Anglia and published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reaffirms something we already knew: having a dog improves our health and is particularly good for people of a certain age.
Indeed, anyone who has a dog must inevitably take it out several times a day regardless of the weather and therefore finds himself walking on average much more every day than those who do not have a furry friend to look after.
The researchers analyzed the habits of over 3 thousand people between the ages of 49 and 91 equipped with a pedometer so you can monitor their degree of physical activity throughout the week. The data were part of a larger project, that of the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (Epic), which wanted to verify the potential link between diet and cancer but which also examined other important aspects of people's lifestyle. just like physical activity.
From the analysis of the data it was seen that the people who had a dog (18% of the total) did on average an extra 30 minutes walk per day compared to the others without being discouraged even by adverse climatic conditions. In fact, even on rainy days, the owners of the dogs performed on average 12 minutes more physical activity than the others did on days of good weather. Having a dog, therefore, can be, among other things, a stimulus to move more avoiding obesity problems (as another study had already found) and improving general health as well as mood.
This could also be very important in the case of the elderly. As the researchers stated:
“The study gives us important information on how to motivate people to stay active even after a certain age. Physical activity interventions usually prompt people to focus on benefits for themselves, but this is where the dog's needs come into play. Being driven by something other than our needs can be a powerful motivator".
You may also be interested in the benefits of having a dog:
- HOW A DOG IMPROVES THE HEALTH OF THE WHOLE FAMILY. THE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES THAT CONFIRM IT
- HOW THE DOG IMPROVES LIFE: 10 REASONS NOT TO LESS IT ANY MORE
- HAVING A DOG REJUVENSES AT LEAST 10 YEARS
And not just movement, the dog helps to live better in other respects as well: relieves stress, can help in case of depression, reduces the risk of heart disease and allergies, can help in therapies and improves sociability. Do you have anything else to add?
