Children who acquire a dog are more likely to exercise, study finds
Newsy
Girls who got a dog as they entered full-time schooling substantially increased their activity levels. Gains were less substantial among boys.
Do you want your children to get more physical activity? Perhaps you should get them a dog.
New research from the University of Western Australia indicates that children who have dogs significantly increase their amount of lightly intense activities. The study was recently published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
The study examined children's behavior for several years as they transitioned from preschool to full-time school.
They found that girls who acquired a dog increased their lightly intense activities by 52 minutes per day, while girls who lost their dog decreased their light physical activity by over an hour a day.
Overall, girls who acquired a dog averaged nearly 100 minutes more per day in physical activity than those who had lost a dog.
