Weight Loss

Lifelong diet restriction and radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis of the hip joint in dogs

Summary:

To evaluate the effects of diet restriction on development of radiographic evidence of hip joint osteoarthritis in dogs.

Conclusion:

Restricted feeding delayed or prevented development of radiographic signs of hip jointosteoarthritis in this cohort of Labrador Retrievers. Lifetime maintenance of 25% diet restriction delayed onset and reduced severity of hip joint osteoarthritis, thus favorably affecting both duration and quality of life. In addition, the data indicated that development of hipjoint osteoarthritis was not bimodal in these dogs but occurred as a continuum throughout life.

Author & Journal:Smith GK, et al, JAVMA 2006

Understanding the relationship between body weight and osteoarthritis

Summary:

Overweight people are at high risk of developing knee osteoarthritis (OA) and may also be at increased risk of hand and hip OA.

Conclusion:

There are a paucity of data on weight loss as a treatment for OA, but preliminary information suggests it is especially effective in knee disease and that even small amounts of weightreduction may have favourable effects.

Author & Journal:Felson DT, et al, Ballieres clin Rheumatol 11: 671-681, 1997

Canine Hip Dysplasia: Reviewing the Evidence for Nonsurgical Management

Summary:

This systematic review of available evidence for nonsurgical management of hip dysplasia considered 14 articles and scored nonsurgical management including: activity restrictions, weight management, acupuncture, modulation of joint disease by polysulfated glycosaminoglycans, mesenchymal stem cell therapy, and extra corporeal shock wave therapy.

Conclusion:

“Weight management is an effective and important component of managing dogs with HD and associated osteoarthritis. Techniques that modulate the progression of joint disease may also be beneficial for treating dogs with HD. Further studies are needed to investigate other methods of managing HD such as hydrotherapy and physical rehabilitation.”

Author & Journal:Shaw, Kristin Kirkby et al, Veterinary Surgery, 2012

A review of osteoarthritis and obesity: current understanding of the relationship and benefit of obesity treatment and prevention in the dog.

Summary:

Obesity is an increasingly important health problem for both man and dog. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a significant cause of pain and disability in both species. A link between obesity and OA has been established in man, though the exact mechanism of the relationship remains to be fully elucidated – current research supports both biomechanical and biochemical theories. There is good evidence (class I*) to support weight loss as an effective treatment for human knee OA. In the dog, the relationship is just beginning to be investigated.

Conclusion:

Further research could yield greater understanding of the pathophysiology of this relationship, perhaps identifying novel therapeutic targets. Confirmation and better understanding of the positive effect of treating and preventing obesity on symptoms and prevalence of OA is likely to be valuable in the campaign against canine obesity.

Author & Journal:Marshall WG, et al, Vet Comp Orthop Trauamatol 2009;22:339-345

Comparative Efficacy of Water and Land Treadmill Training for Overweight or Obese Adults

Summary:

Comparative Efficacy of Water and Land Treadmill Training for Overweight or Obese Adults. {Humans}

Purpose: No known previous research has been published to explore the efficacy of underwater treadmill (UWTM) exercise training for the obese. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare changes in physical fitness, body weight, and body composition in physically inactive, overweight, and obese adults after 12 wks of land treadmill (LTM) or UWTM training.

Conclusion:

UWTM and LTM training are equally capable of improving aerobic fitness and body composition in physically inactive overweight individuals, but UWTM training may induce increases in LBM.

Author & Journal:Greene, Nicholas, et al, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2009

2014 AAHA weight management guidelines for dogs and cats.

Summary:

Communicating and implementing a weight management program for dogs and cats can be a challenging endeavor for veterinarians, but a rewarding one. An effective individualized weight loss program provides a consistent and healthy rate of weight loss to reduce risk of disease, prevent malnutrition, and improve quality of life. Weight loss is achieved with appropriate caloric restriction, diet selection, exercise, and strategies to help modify behavior of both the pet and client.

Conclusion:

This document offers guidelines and tools for the management of weight loss and long-term maintenance of healthy weight.

Author & Journal:Brooks D, et al, J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2014; 50:1-11

Integration of a physical training program in a weight loss plan for overweight pet dogs.

Summary:

To investigate whether a controlled physical training plan for overweight dogs during a weight loss program would improve cardiorespiratory fitness and better preserve lean body mass, compared with results for dogs undergoing a weight loss program based on caloric restriction alone.

Conclusion:

Conclusion:The controlled exercise plan used with a dietary weight loss program prevented loss of lean body mass in dogs. This finding supports inclusion of controlled physical training for obesity management in dogs.

Author & Journal:Vitger AD, et al. JAVMA 2016

Understanding the relationship between body weight and osteoarthritis.

Summary:

Overweight people are at high risk of developing knee osteoarthritis (OA) and may also be at increased risk of hand and hip OA. Furthermore, being overweight accelerates disease progression in knee OA. While the increased joint stress accompanying obesity may explain the strong linkage between obesity and knee OA risk, it does not necessarily explain why obese people have a high risk of disease in the hand nor why obese women are at higher comparative risk of knee disease than obese men. Unfortunately, studies of metabolic factors linked to obesity have not provided an explanation for these findings.

Conclusion:

There are a paucity of data on weight loss as a treatment for OA, but preliminary information suggests it is especially effective in knee disease and that even small amounts of weightreduction may have favourable effects.

Author & Journal:Felson DT, et al, Ballieres clin Rheumatol 11: 671-681, 1997