A new study indicates dog ownership may also be the antidote to junk food, computer games and television which many say causes childhood obesity, according to the Australian News Service, ABC News.
Jo Salmon from Deakin University in Victoria was the lead researcher on the project which looked at obesity levels among kids with and without dogs. ”We found that young children who are aged around five to six years of age are 50 per cent less likely to be overweight or obese if they own a dog, compared to those who don’t own a dog,” Dr Salmon said.
The study also found there were health benefits for older children with dogs.
For 10 to 12-year-olds, 30 per cent who did not have a dog suffered weight problems compared to 27 per cent of their peers who have a pet.
To read more visit - http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/14/2391079.htm.
