Is There a Correlation Between Dog Obesity and Human Obesity? Preliminary Findings of Overweight Status Among Dog Owners and Their Dogs

Linder, Deborah E.; Santiago, Sasha; Halbreich, Eli D.

doi:10.3389/fvets.2021.654617

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Moreover, we found a positive relationship between the degree of obesity of dogs and the BMI of their owners; 66.4% of the owners of overweight/obese dogs were also found to have overweight. The positive relationship between the weight of companion animals and that of their owners has been previously described [ 2 , 30 , 49 , 51 ]. However, further studies are needed to understand the relationship between owner obesity and dog obesity and to determine the exact mechanism underlying the obesity association between them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The owner shares this obesogenic lifestyle with their pets, which could be considered an indicator of over-humanising. The correlation between dog obesity and human obesity from a “One Health” approach has recently become the subject of research [ 49 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Inversely, a growing interest in the human influence on companion animal health, especially obesity in dogs, has been evidenced by an increase in publications related to this topic [ 19 , 49 ]. Ronja and Kölle [ 50 ] have reviewed the most important factors contributing to obesity in dogs, a disease that is often unrecognised by pet owners [ 51 , 52 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is Dog Owner Obesity a Risk Factor for Canine Obesity? A “One-Health” Study on Human–Animal Interaction in a Region with a High Prevalence of Obesity

Suárez

Bautista-Castaño

Romera

et al. 2022

Veterinary Sciences

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Obesity in humans is a growing global problem and is one of the greatest public health challenges we face today. Most researchers agree that, as in humans, the incidence in the companion animal population is also increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors contributing to canine obesity in a region with a high rate of human obesity (Canary Islands, Spain), co-occurrence of obesogenic risk factors, and a canine population with a high percentage of unneutered dogs. We have focused on owner risk factors that promote obesity in humans, such as weight, lifestyle, nutritional habits, and low physical activity, among others. Thus, the human–animal interaction relationship that contributes to human obesity and influences canine obesity has been studied. A multicentre cross-sectional analytical study of 198 pairs of dogs from urban households and their owners was used. A multivariable logistic regression study was completed to analyse owner characteristics variables associated with canine obesity. This transdisciplinary study was conducted with physicians and veterinarians using a “One Health” approach. Our results suggest that, in a region of high obesogenic risk, obese/overweight dogs are primarily female, older than 6 years, and neutered. Being an overweight dog owner was found to be the most important factor in the occurrence of obesity in dogs. Owners of overweight dogs were mainly females, older than 40 years, who did not engage in any physical activity. A strong correlation has been found between dog owners with low levels of education and obesity in their dogs. We suggest that veterinarians should develop and design strategies to encourage pet owners to engage in physical activity with their dogs for the benefit of both.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is Dog Owner Obesity a Risk Factor for Canine Obesity? A “One-Health” Study on Human–Animal Interaction in a Region with a High Prevalence of Obesity

Suárez

Bautista-Castaño

Romera

et al. 2022

Veterinary Sciences

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“…Technology's role in the human-dog relationship should be to positively and constructively address the issues we face together. For just one example, it should attempt to tackle the epidemic of dog obesity (Courcier et al, 2010;German et al, 2018) and its likely relation to our own weight and diet (Linder et al, 2021). Not by taking us out of the equation and automating our dogs' diets and exercise through some technological artifact, but by making us more informed and attentive caregivers, by understanding the underlying challenges we have in coping with pet food insecurity (Arluke, 2021), motivating us to become more active together (Zamansky et al, 2019), and perhaps through sharing data it captures for clinical and academic research (Lee & Lee, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the role of technology in human-dog relationships: a future filled with dreams or nightmares?

Linden¹,

Davidson²,

Hirsch-Matsioulas³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Digital technologies that help us take care of our dogs are becoming more widespread. Yet, little research explores what the role of technology in the human-dog relationship should be. We conducted a mixed-method study incorporating quantitative and qualitative thematic analysis of 155 UK dog owners reflecting on their daily routines and technology's role in it, disentangling the what-wherewhy of interspecies routines and activities, technological desires, and rationales for technological support across common human-dog activities. We found that increasingly entangled daily routines lead to close multi-species households where dog owners conceptualize technology as having a role to support them in giving care to their dogs. When confronted with the role of technology across various activities, only chores like cleaning up after our dogs lead to largely positive considerations, while activities that benefit us like walking together lead to largely negative considerations. For other activities, whether playing, training, or feeding, attitudes remain diverse. In general, across all activities both a nightmare scenario of technology taking the human's role and in doing so disentangling the human-dog bond, as well as a dream scenario of technology augmenting our abilities arise. We argue that the current trajectory of digital technology for pets towards allowing dog owners to interact with their dogs while away-feeding, playing, and so on-is an example of this nightmare scenario becoming reality, and that it is important to redirect this trajectory to one of technology predominantly supporting us in becoming better and more informed caregivers.

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“…Obesity also affects dogs and cats. Around 50% of dogs are considered overweight [ 19 ] and obese dogs are also more likely to have an owner that is obese [ 20 ]. Companion animals and people are exposed to similar environmental risks factors, toxins, and carcinogens such as air pollution or pesticides in food and water [ 21 ].…”

Section: Spontaneously Occurring Cancers In Companion Animals Represent a Unique Model For Human Cancersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Companion Animal Model in Translational Oncology; Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Canine Oral Melanoma

Giuliano

2021

Biology

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Companion animals with naturally occurring cancers can provide an advantageous model for cancer research and in particular anticancer drug development. Compared to commonly utilized mouse models, companion animals, specifically dogs and cats, share a closer phylogenetical distance, body size, and genome organization. Most importantly, pets develop spontaneous, rather than artificially induced, cancers. The incidence of cancer in people and companion animals is quite similar and cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years of age. Many cancer types in dogs and cats have similar pathological, molecular, and clinical features to their human counterparts. Drug toxicity and response to anti-cancer treatment in dogs and cats are also similar to those in people. Companion animals share their lives with their owners, including the environmental and socioeconomic cancer-risk factors. In contrast to humans, pets have a shorter life span and cancer progression is often more rapid. Clinical trials in companion animals are cheaper and less time consuming compared to human trials. Dogs and cats with naturally occurring cancers are an ideal and unique model for human cancer research. Model selection for the specific type of cancer is of pivotal importance. Although companion animal models for translational research have been reviewed previously, this review will try to summarize the most important advantages and disadvantages of this model. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma as a model for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and canine oral melanoma as a model for mucosal melanoma and immunotherapy in people will be discussed as examples.

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Is There a Correlation Between Dog Obesity and Human Obesity? Preliminary Findings of Overweight Status Among Dog Owners and Their Dogs

Cited by 16 publications

References 17 publications

Is Dog Owner Obesity a Risk Factor for Canine Obesity? A “One-Health” Study on Human–Animal Interaction in a Region with a High Prevalence of Obesity

Is Dog Owner Obesity a Risk Factor for Canine Obesity? A “One-Health” Study on Human–Animal Interaction in a Region with a High Prevalence of Obesity

On the role of technology in human-dog relationships: a future filled with dreams or nightmares?

Companion Animal Model in Translational Oncology; Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Canine Oral Melanoma

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