Dog Walking Improves Health in Seniors

A study from the University of London published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine assessed physical activity in seniors. Less than 3 percent of seniors were getting the recommended 150 minutes of weekly moderate-intensity exercise broken up into bouts of 10 minutes or longer per session. That’s less than three of every one-hundred seniors! And two of every three seniors got NO — yes, that’s not a typo — NO moderate exercise! YIKES!

What’s the good news from this study? Well, there WERE folks getting their necessary weekly exercise. And what two factors were linked to getting appropriate exercise? Taking long walks and DOG WALKING!!!! Yes, once again, science proves you CAN get fit with Fido and having a pooch in your life gives you a big boost toward achieving important health and fitness goals!

So if you’re a senior with a dog — congratulations! And take that dog for a walk! And if you don’t have a dog, offer to walk a neighbor’s dog or volunteer at an animal shelter walking dogs. And the science says, it’ll make you healthier!