Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Weight loss is harder for dogs and cats over 40% overweight
By Broome, H A O et al.·Published in Scientific reports·2023·Institute of Infection, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Weight loss outcomes are generally worse for dogs and cats with class II obesity, defined as > 40% overweight.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that dogs and cats that are more than 40% overweight (class II obesity) struggle more with weight loss compared to those that are less than 40% overweight (class I obesity). In dogs, fewer of those in the class II group completed their weight management programs, and they lost weight more slowly while losing more muscle mass. Interestingly, cats in the class II group did lose more weight overall, but it took them longer and they also lost more lean tissue. This highlights the challenges of managing weight in pets that are significantly overweight, and it may be important for owners to work closely with their veterinarians to develop effective weight loss plans for these pets.
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Abstract
In pet dogs and cats, adiposity is most-often estimated clinically using a 9-category body condition score (BCS), with BCS 9 equating to ~ 40% overweight. Animals that are more overweight (> 40%) are seen in clinical practice but are not appropriately depicted by descriptions in the existing categories. To determine whether being > 40% overweight has clinical relevance, this study aimed to compare the outcomes of weight management in animals that were > 40% overweight with those < 40% overweight. Records of dogs and cats attending a specialist obesity care clinic, where adiposity is determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), were reviewed. Animals were assigned to two classes (class I ≤ 40% overweight: 118/398 [40%] dogs and 68/116 [59%] cats; class II, > 40% overweight: 180/398 [60%] dogs and 48/116 [41%] cats) based on DXA results, and weight loss outcomes were compared. Fewer class II dogs obesity completed weight management than class I dogs (P < 0.001), rate of weight loss was also slower (P = 0.012) and lean tissue loss greater (P < 0.001). Compared with class I, cats with class II obesity lost more weight (P = 0.048) albeit over a longer period (P = 0.043) leading to greater lean tissue loss (P = 0.004). Approximately half the pets presenting to a specialist clinic were have class II obesity (> 40% overweight), and some weight loss outcomes are worse for these animals.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38151525/