Dog owners who walk their dogs are more active and have less body fat than non-owners and non-walkers, according to a study presented today at the 54th American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

Dog ownership was associated with higher levels of self-reported leisure-time physical activity in the study, which examined differences in physical activity, weight, status, and neighborhood, environment, walkability, and income between dog owners and non-dog owners.

Owners who walked their pets had lower Body Mass Index (BMI) scores and accelerometer (step-counting) scores 11 percent higher than those who did not walk their dogs.

The study involved nearly 2,200 participants recruited from 32 neighborhoods in the Seattle and Baltimore area.

The study showed dog walkers spent an average of 25 minutes/week walking the dog, and 27 percent of participants met physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes per week because of their dog walking.