It is a well known fact that as a nation, the U.S. tends to lean towards the overweight side. Study after study confirms the obesity epidemic that is causing a number of health issues, but a new report shows that human beings aren't the only ones affected - our pets are fat, too!

A 2008 study conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found that 44% of dogs and 57% of cats are overweight or obese. The extra pudge puts them at greater risk for type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, skin conditions and various other health problems.

Why is Fido so chunky? Susan Nelson, a veterinarian and assistant professor of clinical services at Kansas State U blames high-calorie diets and insufficient exercise.

"For many [pets], it's a combination of too many calories and too little exercise," Nelson told Discovery News.

- wait a minute, this sounds familiar! The same causes of human obesity are causing our pets to be overweight, too? You don't say.

This must mean the solution is similar too, right? Right. Nelson advises pet owners to assess how many calories their pets are eating on a daily basis - including what's in their food dish as well as treats and table scraps, which can quickly add up and cause a little more padding around the middle.

"Treats are often high-calorie and not very nutritious," Nelson explains. "When your pet starts eating more treats and less of its nutritionally complete diet, it receives subpar nutrition, just as with people who eat primarily junk food."

Nelson says treats should make up no more than 10% of a pet's calorie intake, and recommends owners pay very close attention to serving guides and nutritional information on the food packaging, as portion size varies on the size and breed of your pet.

So just how much chunk is too much chunk when it comes to Fluffy? Healthy pooches and felines should have an "hourglass figure" with abdomens that tuck up at the flank and ribs that aren't visible, but easily detectable to the touch. If you need help assessing your pet's weight and determining their diet, a veterinarian should be able to help, and could even prescribe a special diet food.

If you care about your doggy or kitty, it is best you pay close attention to this. A 2002 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that dogs fed 25% less food lived longer and experience delayed onset of chronic diseases.

Another factor in pet obesity lies in exercise, or rather, lack of it. Tony Buffington is a professor at Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. He doesn't believe diet alone is enough to get your pet's weight under control. Buffington agrees with Nelson in that animals need a healthy amount of exercise, but he also draws attention to the impact of stressful household environments.

"I think obesity rests on a three-legged platform," Buffington said. "One leg is food, and food has never been as highly palatable, cheap and available as it is today."

The other two legs, of course, are activity and stress. Buffington told Discovery News that most pets (both indoor and outdoor) are completely inactive or bored, both of which are conditions that promote weight gain. He recommends changing how, rather than how much, your pets are eating. "Stop feeding them out of a bowl," he advised. Foraging devices or food puzzles make dogs and cats work for their meals, stimulating their bodies and brains at the same time.

Buffington describes obesity as a "worldwide, pan-species epidemic."

Good health should always be one of your foremost priorities. If you're hoping to shed a few pounds and think your pet could do the same, perhaps you could both set out on a weight loss program together!

via Discovery