One Health Solutions to Obesity in People and Their Pets.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the potential of a 'One Health' approach, leveraging the human-companion animal bond to promote physical activity like walking as a strategy to combat obesity in both humans and pets.
Results Summary
The study highlights that dog walking is a proven motivator for human physical activity, benefiting both owners and dogs, and suggests that comparative clinical research on obesity in pets could inform human obesity treatments.
Population
Humans and companion animals (dogs and cats) with obesity.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
strategic communication with the entire healthcare team leading clients through the 'stages of change' | increase | successful weight loss programmes for companion animals | companion animals | - | involves | #1 |
employing a 'One Health' framework | increase | novel solutions for the prevention and treatment of this condition | people and their pets | - | provide | #2 |
comparative clinical research into the biology of obesity and its comorbidities in dogs and cats | increase | knowledge relevant to the equivalent human conditions | dogs and cats | - | is likely to lead to | #3 |
leveraging the human-companion animal bond | increase | successful programmes that promote physical activity | people and their pets with obesity | - | create | #4 |
dog walking | increase | human physical activity | people | - | is a proven motivator for | #5 |
dog walking | increase | health benefits | both the owner and the dog | - | has | #6 |
Despite the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the human and companion animal populations, and the global trends for increasing numbers of affected people and pets, there are few successful interventions that are proven to combat this complex multifactorial problem. One key strategy involves effective communication between human and veterinary healthcare professionals with patients and clients about obesity. In human healthcare, the focus of communication should be on physical activity as part of overall health and wellbeing, rather than assessment of the body mass index; clinical examination of patients should record levels of physical activity as a key 'vital sign' as part of their assessment. Successful weight loss programmes for companion animals also involves strategic communication with the entire healthcare team leading clients through the 'stages of change'. There is great potential in employing a 'One Health' framework to provide novel solutions for the prevention and treatment of this condition in people and their pets. Comparative clinical research into the biology of obesity and its comorbidities in dogs and cats is likely to lead to knowledge relevant to the equivalent human conditions. The advantages of companion animal clinical research over traditional rodent models include the outbred genetic background and relatively long lifespan of pets and the fact that they share the human domestic environment. The human-companion animal bond can be leveraged to create successful programmes that promote physical activity in people and their pets with obesity. Dog walking is a proven motivator for human physical activity, with health benefits to both the owner and the dog. Realizing the potential of a One Health approach will require the efforts and leadership of a committed group of like-minded individuals representing a range of scientific and medical disciplines. Interested parties will need the means and opportunities to communicate and to collaborate, including having the resources and funding for research. One Health proponents must have a role in forming public policy related to the prevention and management of overweight and obesity.