Easy Health Options Staff | Feb 22, 2012 | Comments 0
Exercise is important for everyone, but getting regular physical activity is especially key for pregnant women. This is partly because during pregnancy, some women may develop gestational diabetes, and the American Diabetes Association states that eating right and getting recommended exercise levels can help prevent this disease. Recently, a study of 11,000 pregnant women found that those who own dogs are 50 percent more likely to get the recommended 30 minutes of brisk walking a day than those without canines. The research was conducted by scientists from the University of Liverpool, in partnership with Mars Petcare.
According to researchers, this suggests that owning a dog may encourage people to get more physical activity.
“We found that owning one or more dogs was associated with pregnant women taking part in brisk walking on a regular basis, helping them to achieve the recommended 150 minutes of activity a week. Findings suggest that ownership of a dog provides some motivation to go for a walk, even during pregnancy,” said researcher Carri Westgarth, Ph.D.
Since obese mothers sometimes have difficult births, it’s important to explore factors that may encourage pregnant women to remain physically active.
http://www.easyhealthoptions.com/alternative-medicine/a-dogs-your-best-workout-partner/
