The association between dog ownership and physical activity in adults – a brief review

Abstract

SUMMARYThe following key messages have been found as a result of this rapid review:1. Dog walking may be used to encourage physical activity at a population level. 2. Dog owners are not more active than non-dog owners unless they walk their dogs. 3. Currently, there is a lack of robust evidence to suggest a correlation between dog ownership and an increase in physical activity and/or weight loss. Key WordsDog walking; dog ownership; physical activity ABSTRACT Background Dog walking has the potential to promote exercise at a population level. The research question for this rapid review was: Do dog owners have increased levels of physical activity and improved weight loss outcomes compared to non-dog owners?