Energy-intake and activity risk factors for owner-perceived obesity in a defined population of Swedish dogs

Sallander, Marie; Hagberg, Malin; Hedhammar, Åke; Rundgren, M.; Lindberg, Jan Erik

doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2010.05.004

Cited by 32 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Many of the risk factors identified recapitulate robust findings from previous studies. Exercise has previously been identified as protective against obesity (11,12,17). Neutering has also been found to be a risk factor for overweightness but not obesity (6), and we find more significant relationships with the combined overweightness/obesity models than with the models for obesity alone.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Risk factors associated with canine overweightness and obesity in an owner-reported survey

Perry

Shmalberg

Tanprasertsuk

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background Overweightness and obesity in dogs are associated with negative health outcomes. A better understanding of risk factors associated with canine weight is fundamental to identifying preventative interventions and treatments. In this cross-sectional study, we used a direct to consumer approach to collect body condition scores (BCS), as well as demographic, diet, and lifestyle data on 4,446 dogs. BCS was assessed by owners using a 9-point system and categorized as ideal (BCS 4-5), overweight (BCS 6), and obese (BCS 7+). Following univariate analyses, a stepwise procedure was used to select variables which were included in multivariate logistic regression models. One model was created to compare ideal to all overweight and obese dogs, and another was created to compare ideal to obese dogs only. We then used Elastic Net selection and XGBoost variable importance measures to validate these results.Results Overall, 1,480 (33%) of dogs were reported to be overweight or obese, of which 356 (8% total) of dogs were reported to be obese. Seven factors were significantly associated with both overweightness/obesity and obesity alone in all three analyses (stepwise, Elastic Net, and XGBoost): diet composition, probiotic supplementation, treat quantity, exercise, age, food motivation level, and pet appetite. Neutering was also associated with overweightness/obesity in all analyses.Conclusions This study recapitulated established risk factors associated with BCS (age, exercise, neutering). Moreover, we elucidated associations between previously examined risk factors and BCS (diet composition, treat consumption, and temperament) and identified a novel factor (probiotic supplementation). Specifically, relative to dogs on fresh food diets, BCS was higher in dogs eating dry food both alone and in combination with other foods. Furthermore, dogs receiving probiotics, but not other forms of supplementation, were more likely to have an ideal BCS. Future studies should corroborate these findings with experimental manipulations.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Risk factors associated with canine overweightness and obesity in an owner-reported survey

Perry

Shmalberg

Tanprasertsuk

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Clinical assessment of overweightness and obesity relies on body condition scores (BCS) based on visual inspection and palpation. A number of studies have identified risk factors associated with increased BCS, including increased age (3)(4)(5)(6)8,9), neutering (3,5,6,9,10), and decreased exercise (11,12). Some studies have also identified an effect of different feeding practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies have also identified an effect of different feeding practices. Home-made diets, table foods, semi-moist foods, and canned foods have all been associated with overweightness and obesity (3,12). The consumption of treats and snacks has also been identified as a risk factor (8,10,11).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk factors associated with canine overweightness and obesity in an owner-reported survey

Perry

Shmalberg

Tanprasertsuk

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Overweightness and obesity in dogs are associated with negative health outcomes. A better understanding of risk factors associated with canine weight is fundamental to identifying preventative interventions and treatments. In this cross-sectional study, we used a direct to consumer approach to collect body condition scores (BCS), as well as demographic, diet, and lifestyle data on 4,446 dogs. BCS was assessed by owners using a 9-point system and categorized as ideal (BCS 4-5), overweight (BCS 6), and obese (BCS 7+). Following univariate analyses, a stepwise procedure was used to select variables which were included in multivariate logistic regression models. One model was created to compare ideal to all overweight and obese dogs, and another was created to compare ideal to obese dogs only. We then used Elastic Net selection and XGBoost variable importance measures to validate these results. Results: Overall, 1,480 (33%) of dogs were reported to be overweight or obese, of which 356 (8% total) of dogs were reported to be obese. Seven factors were significantly associated with both overweightness/obesity and obesity alone in all three analyses (stepwise, Elastic Net, and XGBoost): diet composition, probiotic supplementation, treat quantity, exercise, age, food motivation level, and pet appetite. Neutering was also associated with overweightness/obesity in all analyses. Conclusions: This study recapitulated established risk factors associated with BCS (age, exercise, neutering). Moreover, we elucidated associations between previously examined risk factors and BCS (diet composition, treat consumption, and temperament) and identified a novel factor (probiotic supplementation). Specifically, relative to dogs on fresh food diets, BCS was higher in dogs eating dry food both alone and in combination with other foods. Furthermore, dogs receiving probiotics, but not other forms of supplementation, were more likely to have an ideal BCS. Future studies should corroborate these findings with experimental manipulations.

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“…Also, the memory of the owners might be hampered as some years have passed since the cats were young, since they were diagnosed with diabetes. However, in previous studies in humans (cancer study which uses a previously validated survey) and in companion animals (survey of diet and exercise in dogs that uses a previously validated questionnaire), validated dietary questionnaires has shown that it is indeed possible to get data from the whole life-span with quite a high amount of certainty [15,16]. However, none of these studies are made in cats, and basic and larger studies would be needed in cats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and risk factors for the development of diabetes mellitus in Swedish cats

2012

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BackgroundThe prevalence and risk factors for the development of feline diabetes mellitus (FDM) in Swedish cats have not previously been reported. The objective of the present pilot study was to indicate prevalence and possible risk factors for FDM in Swedish cats. Twenty diabetic cats from the database at the University Animal Hospital in Uppsala participated in the study, and these were matched with 20 healthy controls on sex and age. A mail-and-telephone questionnaire focusing on diet, activity and obesity was used.ResultsThe prevalence of FDM during the years 2000–2004 based on the results of the hospital records in the present study was 21 per 10,000 cats. The diabetic cats were on average 9 years old when the disease signs were discovered (median, min-max 2–15). Among FDM cases, it was more common to be male (n=17 males vs n=3 females; P≤0.05). Ten out of twenty owners to cases (50%) reported their cats to be obese at the time of the diagnosis (median 9 years, min-max 2–15), as compared to five out of twenty (25%) controls at the same age. The median BW at the time for diagnosis was 5.5 kg (min-max 2.0-9.0) for cases, and 5.0 kg (min-max 3.0-8.0 kg) for controls, respectively. Despite that both cases and controls had the same median age at the time of the study (13 years, min-max 3–18), a significantly higher number of controls were alive at that age (n=16 controls vs 8 cases; P≤0.05). A significantly higher proportion of cases that were obese at the time of the FDM diagnosis were dead at the time of the study compared to the proportion of controls that were obese at a similar age (P≤0.05).The diets given at the time for diagnosis for cases compared to diet of the controls at a similar time were mainly commercial foods, and controls consumed a higher proportion of dry foods compared to cases (medians 79 vs 44% of DM intake/d, respectively; P≤0.05). Cases were less active compared to the controls (2.3 and 3.2 h/d, respectively; P≤0.05).ConclusionsThe results indicate that the proportions of dry foods in the diet, to perform low activity and to be obese could be identified as preliminary risk factors for FDM in Swedish cats, and should be taken into account in preventive measures as well as in the design of future epidemiological studies in this population.

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Energy-intake and activity risk factors for owner-perceived obesity in a defined population of Swedish dogs

Cited by 32 publications

References 15 publications

Risk factors associated with canine overweightness and obesity in an owner-reported survey

Risk factors associated with canine overweightness and obesity in an owner-reported survey

Risk factors associated with canine overweightness and obesity in an owner-reported survey

Prevalence and risk factors for the development of diabetes mellitus in Swedish cats

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