Pets Help Reduce Stress and Lose Weight
My Beagle Oliver knows all my problems and all my my deepest secrets. He is my shoulder to cry on and always helps me with my stress issues. I was not surprised to learn that a survey by Mindlab International found that 55 percent of people were more relaxed after spending time with their pets–44 percent were also less worried about specific problems such as job security and finance. Dr David Lewis, a psychologist at Mindlab said that “Interacting with a dog is a profound and effective stress reducer. It increases feelings of contentment and relaxation.”
One quarter of respondents described their dog as their best friend while one in six women said they confided their deepest thoughts only in their pets-sounds familiar!
It has also been found that it is easier to lose weight when you have a pet to go walking with. People who walk dogs are more consistent about regular exercise and show more improvement in fitness than people who walk with a human companion. I laugh that I have to try to keep up with my beagle on our walks, which definitely keeps me active. Isn’t having a pet the best?
