People and Pets Weight Management Study
A UNIQUE, NEW WEIGHT MANAGEMENT STUDY FOR PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS IS LAUNCHED
CHICAGO/ILLINOIS (June 5, 2002) – Obesity has reached epidemic proportions among Americans and we are finding it’s not just people that are piling on the pounds, our pets are weighing-in as heavy hounds and flabby felines too. Over 60 percent of adult Americans are now overweight or obese and an estimated 60 million cats and dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese – that’s 50% of the pet population.
To help combat this weighty trend, the Wellness Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. are launching a new and unique weight management program for both people and their pets – People and Pets Exercising Together (PPET). As part of this new program, people and their dogs will dine together, exercise together and hit the scales in a weigh-in together.
Dr. Robert Kushner, Medical Director, Wellness Institute, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School explains, “Obesity is a health epidemic affecting not just people but also millions of pets nationwide. The causes and health risks associated with being overweight or obese are similar in people and pets. The fact is the accumulation of fat is caused by the same factors - increased calorie consumption and reduced physical activity. This in turn translates to a much greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and unfortunately a shortened life span”.
Research published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology proves that you can lose weight more effectively when you slim with a friend. The PPET study, sponsored by Hill’s the makers of Science Diet® and Prescription Diet® brand pet foods, will focus on increased effectiveness in weight loss of both overweight people and overweight dogs when they participate in a combined targeted program. This innovative new program will include 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a day with portion and caloric control of food. Dogs in the PPET program will dine on a low fat, nutritionally balanced food such as Hill’s® Prescription Diet® Canine r/d®, which is specially formulated to increase fat metabolism.
“There’s a lot of clinical evidence to suggest that people are more effective at losing weight and maintaining that weight loss when they do it with a friend or companion. And what better, more reliable friend is there than a faithful canine,” explains Dr. Kushner, “That’s why we believe that owners and pets following a controlled, state of the art weight management program such as we’ve devised, can fight and win the battle of the bulge together.”
“The Surgeon General’s warning about the causes and risks of being overweight applies whether you’ve got two legs or four,” explains Dr. Jennifer Jellison, DVM Practicing Veterinarian Minerva Park Veterinary Clinic, Columbus, Ohio, “And from what I’ve seen, if you have a lifestyle conducive to being overweight, chances are your cat or dog does too.”
Often pet owners do not recognize their pet is overweight. And of those who do recognize their pet is overweight, few realize the severity of this condition, which increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and a shortened life span. That’s why it is important for the pet to be weighed by the veterinarian. An extra five pounds on a dog that should weigh 17 pounds or an extra three pounds on a cat that should weigh 10 pounds is similar to an extra 50 pounds on a person who should weigh 170 pounds!
PPET is being developed to help reverse this dangerous growing trend by giving people and their faithful companions a chance to exercise and lose weight together, offering a new and exciting strategy on how to help people and pets live longer, healthier lives.
Whether or not you are part of the PPET weight management program, we have some tips for you and your pet on how to slim down for summer! Of course, check with your doctor and veterinarian before launching any weight loss and exercise plan. Visit www.petfit.com for top tips from the experts on how you and your pet can lose weight.