Study finds seniors who own dogs are healthier
It’s no secret that pets can bring a lot of joy into our lives, but a recent study has suggested that there could be some real health benefits to owning a dog.
A new study, published in the Gerontologist health journal, has found that seniors who own dogs generally have better health and get more exercise.
Researchers at Miami University in Ohio and the University of Missouri found people over 50 who had dogs and walked them regularly had lower body mass indexes, fewer limitations in daily activities, fewer chronic conditions and visited the doctor less.
The study suggested that part of the reason for this could be the act of walking a dog daily, suggesting that walking one of the best forms of excercise for seniors.
The co-author of the study Rebecca Johnson, a professor at the University of Missouri and director of its Research Centre for Human-Animal Interaction, said she was comfortable making the link between health and dog ownership.
Professor Johnson said, “The whole body of literature on dog ownership… indicates that the dog is unconditionally loving. They are a social lubrication, meaning other people talk to people if they’re out walking their dog. They’re a bridge to other generations.”
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