Weight loss outcomes are generally worse for dogs and cats with class II obesity, defined as > 40% overweight.

Broome, HAO, Woods-Lee, GRT, Flanagan, J, Biourge, V and German, AJ ORCID: 0000-0002-3017-7988 (2023) Weight loss outcomes are generally worse for dogs and cats with class II obesity, defined as > 40% overweight. Scientific reports, 13 (1). p. 22958. ISSN 2045-2322, 2045-2322

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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.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Animals, Dogs, Cats, Obesity, Cat Diseases, Dog Diseases, Weight Loss, Overweight
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Life Courses & Medical Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	02 Feb 2024 11:05
Last Modified:	23 May 2026 08:19
DOI:	10.1038/s41598-023-50197-y
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50197-y
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3178352
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