A study has revealed that the pet animals of overweight people are generally well-fed and overweight themselves.
An interesting research conducted in Denmark suggests that this is likely because overweight individuals tend to feed their pets generously as well.
Experts from the University of Copenhagen, in a study published in the journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine, stated that pets often reflect their owners’ habits — “as the owner is, so is the pet dog.”
The research found that the likelihood is more than double that dogs owned by overweight or obese people will also be overweight or heavier than normal.
The study included 268 dog owners, out of which 20 percent of the dogs were above their normal weight.
Researcher Charlotte Jørnøe explained that people with normal body weight usually avoided giving extra food to their dogs, whereas overweight individuals commonly gave their leftover food to their pets. For example, while sitting comfortably on the sofa watching television and eating a sandwich or other food, they would give the remaining food to their dog.
According to the research, in developed countries, between 34 and 59 percent of pet dogs are overweight, and in some cases so much so that they even have difficulty running or exercising.
Another study conducted in 2016 found that obesity or excess weight reduces the average life expectancy of pet dogs, and that they are also at risk of developing diabetes and heart diseases, similar to humans.
The research further indicates that overweight pet dogs may have a reduction in their average lifespan of about one year and four months.