# Presentation: 818752

## People and Pets Exercising Together: (P-PET) The Relationship Between How Owners Reported Their Quality of Life and That of Their Dogs During Weight Loss

- Dennis E. Jewell PhD, Robert F. Kushner MD
- Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

## Obesity is a significant public health problem  that is affecting both people and their pets.

## The human-companion animal bond and the role of pets in providing social support provides a rational framework for studying the response to a weight loss program.

## THE PROBLEM

- Hill’s Pet NutritionTM

## Three treatments were investigated in a one year study.

-  People losing weight
-  Dogs losing weight
-  Dogs and Owners losing     	weight together

## People only – 56 individuals

- Dogs only – 53 individuals
- People and dogs – 35 pairs

## People needed to have a BMI of greater than 25 be in good general health and have no limitations to exercise.

- Dogs needed to have a BCS of 4 or 5 be in good general health and between 1-6 years of age.

## Treatment Effect on Study Completion

- Dogs has an increased completion percent
- PPET had a significant increased completion of dogs and owners.

- MONTHS ON STUDY

- Percent Completion

## Percent Loss of body weight

- Dogs lost a greater percent of body weight that people.All treatments had improved body weight on this study (P<.05).

- MONTHS ON STUDY

- Body weight percent

## Dogs Quality of Life (QOL) Scale: +3 (Dramatically improved) to -3 (Dramatically Worsened)

- Enhanced QOL

- No Change in QOL

- MONTHS ON STUDY

## Dogs Quality of Life (QOL) Scale: +3 (Dramatically improved) to -3 (Dramatically Worsened)

- Enhanced QOL

- No Change in QOL

- Treatment did not effect dogs QOL.   Both groups improved QOL while on the study (P<.05).

- MONTHS ON STUDY

## Owners Quality of Life (QOL) Scale: +3 (Dramatically improved) to -3 (Dramatically Worsened)

- Enhanced QOL

- No Change in QOL

- MONTHS ON STUDY

## Owners Quality of Life (QOL) Scale: +3 (Dramatically improved) to -3 (Dramatically Worsened)

- Enhanced QOL

- No Change in QOL

- MONTHS ON STUDY

- Both groups improved QOL while on the study (P<.05). PPET group more than Dog only (P<.05).

## Change in Owner-Dog Interaction Time

- MONTHS ON STUDY

- Minutes of Increased Daily Interaction Time

## Change in Owner-Dog Interaction Time

- There was increased interaction in both groups (P<.05).  The PPET group increased interaction more than the dog only group (P<.05).

- MONTHS ON STUDY

- Minutes of Increased Daily Interaction Time

## Change in Dog Exercise Time

- MONTHS ON STUDY

- Minutes of Increased Daily Exercise Time

## Change in Dog Exercise Time

- There was increased exercise in both groups (P<.05).  The dogs in the PPET group increased exercise more than the dog only group (P<.05).

- MONTHS ON STUDY

- Minutes of Increased Daily Exercise Time

## Conclusions

- They experienced improved owner reported quality of Life
- Quality of life between owner and pet were strongly linked
- Your pet might be your best weight loss partner

## Solutions

- Change life patterns – increase                                     exercise
- Eat the right foods:
-   People – high fruits and vegetables  with reduced total consumption  Dogs – Prescription Diet® r/d and                Prescription Diet® w/d
- Have a support system, pets can be a great motivator - initiate exercise- enjoyment of weight loss
- - “parental” pride in mutual success

- Questions?