U-CAN-MOVE – effects of tailored exercise program on risk factors for type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic disorders in dog owners and their dogs

Would you like to describe the project in short?

"The project aims to identify new sustainable ways to increase physical activity and reduce a sedentary lifestyle in dog owners, using the dog as a motivator. The project is based on unique preliminary results from a pilot study on healthy dog owners and dogs. The overall question is how a tailored exercise program for dog owners and dogs affects quality of life, body composition and risk factors for type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic disorders in both owners and dogs, and how it stimulates motivation for behaviour change towards increased physical activity."

What are the cross-disciplinary aspects of this project?

"The project is a collaboration between the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala University, the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, the architectural firm FOJAB, and the non-profit organization Swedish Working Dog Association. Several scientific disciplines participate in the project; veterinary medicine, animal care, endocrinology, physiotherapy, neuroscience, nutrition, economics, and landscape architecture."

How was the project and collaboration born?

"Through the shared lifestyle that characterizes dog owners and their dogs and where lifestyle factors are common to both owner and dog. Through contact with the Swedish Working Dog Association, the idea was born to evaluate their exercise program ‘Upp och hoppa – Sund med hund’ for both owner and dog. A further part of the project also includes the environment where the dog owners exercise and are physically active with their dogs."

How can UDC be of help in your research?

"Create contact surfaces between both senior researchers and doctoral students through joint seminar series, writing camps, research boarding schools etc. Help with disseminating results."

What can UDC do to make the PhD students feel like they belong to the centre?

"In addition to what has been mentioned before – being inclusive for all doctoral students around the graduate school and joint courses and seminars."

Which UDC activities will be meaningful for this project?

"See my two previous answers."

Klara Smedberg