Do Pets Have a Negative Effect on Your Health?
A recent Finnish study, discussed at WebMD in the article “Pet Owners May Be Less Healthy,” suggests that, you guessed it, people who own pets may be less healthy than their pet-free counterparts. Says article author Daniel DeNoon,
Many studies have found that pets can help people cope with various physical and psychological problems.
But those studies didn’t look at the effects of pet ownership on the health of the general population.
According to DeNoon, the research found that
“Pet owners had a slightly higher BMI than the rest, which indicates that people having a pet — particularly a dog — could use some exercise.”
Well, isn’t that surprising! This info is the complete opposite of what I would have expected. Then, I walked into my bedroom and discovered that my puppy, Pickles, had peed on my bed–again–and suddenly it didn’t seem so far fetched that pets could do harm to one’s well-being as well as doing good.
Do you have a pet? Do you think your health would be better or worse if you were on the other side of the pet fence (pun intended)?
Tags: Exercise, Fitness, Health, Pets, well-being, Wellness, woman, women, Womens-Health
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5 opinions for Do Pets Have a Negative Effect on Your Health?
Teena in Toronto
Jan 4, 2007 at 5:08 am
I’d always read that having pets makes you healthier as you are less stressed. Plus if you have a dog, it’s an excuse to get outside for a walk.
BTW, we have a dog and two cats.
Kristen King
Jan 4, 2007 at 5:13 am
I know, right? I thought so, too! But according to this article, folks with dogs could use some exercise. It seems counterintuitive to me, but who am I to argue with scholarly research?
Would love to hear more thoughts on this.
kk :]
Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD
Jan 4, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I’m more worried about your puppy’s wellbeing after peeing on the bed! :P
In any case, don’t forget toxoplasmosis makes women sexier. I’d say that was definitely a positive effect! ha
Kristen King
Jan 4, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Are you kidding? She runs the joint. ;]
Toxoplasmosis makes women sexier, but if memory serves, men become Neanderthals, right? That’s a definite detriment.
Tee hee.
kk
Lively Women » A Slice of Kristen’s Lively Life: My Puppy the Evil Genius
Jan 11, 2007 at 8:23 pm
[…] Oh, sure, Pickles the pug looks sleepy and adorable and innocent, but it’s all an act. Remember that post from the other day, Do Pets Have a Negative Effect on Your Health?? Well, this pet, and the cutie black-and-white kitty behind her (Isabel), are seriously making me crazy! […]
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