论文标题：Dog owners are more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than people without a dog: An investigation of the association between dog ownership and physical activity levels in a UK community

期刊：Scientific Reports

作者：Carri Westgarth, Robert M. Christley, Christopher Jewell, Alexander J. German, Lynne M. Boddy, Hayley E. Christian

发表时间：2019/04/18

数字识别码： 10.1038/s41598-019-41254-6

原文链接：http://t.cn/EXDwcXH

微信链接：https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/qqYpuMUd3oZJjL9qllLm_Q

根据《科学报告》发表的一项针对英国社区的分析Dog owners are more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than people without a dog: An investigation of the association between dog ownership and physical activity levels in a UK community指出，养狗人士达到健康指南推荐活动量的可能性估计为不养狗成年人的4倍。研究结果突出了狗在帮助人类保持健康方面的潜在作用。

图1 图源：VisualHunt

指南建议，成年人每周至少应进行150分钟中等至高强度的身体活动。然而，只有66%的英国男性和58%的英国女性能够做到这一点，在美国这一比例更是低于50%。养狗被认为能增加活动量，但研究人员尚不清楚是否所有家庭成员都会受到这方面的影响，以及遛狗是否会替代其它形式的锻炼。

英国利物浦大学的Carri Westgarth和同事对英国西柴郡385个家庭（191名养狗成年人、455名不养狗成年人、46名儿童）自我报告的身体活动进行了评估。结果显示，养狗人士的散步频率比不养狗人士更高、散步时间也更长。此外，该群体将遛狗作为其它身体活动的补充，而非替代。

该项研究中发现的在英国养狗对活动水平的影响程度，超过此前针对北美和澳大利亚人口进行的研究中发现的影响程度。例如，Westgarth和同事发现64%的英国养狗人士每周至少遛狗150分钟，而一项美国研究的统计结果发现达到这一时长的美国人比例为27%。作者认为，这些不同可能源于社会和气候差异，比如美澳两国的室外狗和能自己锻炼的狗比例均高于英国。

摘要：Previous research suggests that dog owners are slightly more physically active than those without dogs, but have only studied one household member, and it is unclear whether time spent dog walking replaces other physical activity (PA). A survey of 191 dog owning adults (DO), 455 non-dog owning adults (NDO), and 46 children, living in 385 households in West Cheshire UK, was conducted in July-August 2015. Objective (accelerometer) validation occurred on a subset (n = 28 adults). Survey PA outcomes were modelled using hierarchical logistic and linear multivariable regression modelling, accounting for clustering of participants in households. DO were far more likely than NDO to report walking for recreation (OR = 14.35, 95% CI = 5.77–35.79, P < 0.001), and amongst recreational walkers walked for longer per week (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.27–5.91, P < 0.001). Other PA undertaken did not differ by dog ownership. The odds of DO meeting current physical activity guidelines of 150 mins per week were four times greater than for NDO (OR = 4.10, 95% CI = 2.05–8.19, P < 0.001). Children with dogs reported more minutes of walking (P = 0.01) and free-time (unstructured) activity (P < 0.01). Dog ownership is associated with more recreational walking and considerably greater odds of meeting PA guidelines. Policies regarding public spaces and housing should support dog ownership due to PA benefits.

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（来源：科学网）