Beagle Obesity Breaking Down Common Myths

Medical Myths: 5 common myths about obesity

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, 42.4% of adults have obesity. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that around 650 million adults have obesity.

People are growing increasingly aware of the health issues associated with obesity. However, despite public health campaigns, myths continue unabated. Many of the most common myths drive stigma that can impact the mental health of people with obesity.

For instance, the results of one 2020 meta-analysis on the subject indicate a stronger association between weight stigma and diminished mental health with increasing body mass index [BMI].

Addressing the myths that surround obesity is important. With this in mind, this article will tackle five of the most prevalent misunderstandings around this condition.

In many cases, consuming more calories than the body needs for a prolonged amount of time is the direct cause of obesity. Indeed, the vast majority of measures for reducing obesity aim to lower caloric intake, increase physical activity, or both.

Although diet and exercise are important factors, several unrelated factors can also play a significant part in obesity.

These factors, which people often forget about, include insufficient sleep, psychological stress, chronic pain, endocrine (hormone) disruptors, and the use of certain medications.

In these cases, overeating, for instance, may be a symptom rather than a cause.

Also, some of these factors work together to increase the chance of obesity. As an example, stress can increase the chance of obesity. Due to the prevalence of weight stigma, obesity can be stressful for some people, thereby increasing stress levels and sparking a negative feedback loop.

Added to this, stress can impact sleep quality, and this, in turn, might cause sleep deprivation, which is another factor in the development of obesity. Sleep deprivation also appears to increase stress levels. As one paper explains, stress hormone levels correlate positively with decreased sleep duration.

Sleep apnea, wherein a person stops breathing for short periods during sleep, is more prevalent in people with overweight or obesity. Again, a cycle can form: As they gain weight, their sleep apnea may worsen, which can lead to sleep deprivation, which can lead to further weight gain.

As another example, there appears to be an association between chronic pain and obesity. The reasons for this relationship are sure to be complex and differ from person to person, but they likely include chemical factors, sleep, depression, and lifestyle.

It is not difficult to see how chronic pain would both increase stress levels and impact sleep, adding to the negative loops outlined above.

Stress, sleep, and pain are just three interlinking factors that can drive obesity. Each persons case will be different, but simply receiving an instruction to move more and eat less might not be an adequate intervention.

As this article will continue to reiterate, calorie intake and exercise are vital factors in reducing obesity, but they do not tell the whole tale.

Obesity does not directly cause diabetes. It is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but not everyone with obesity will develop type 2 diabetes, and not everyone with type 2 diabetes has obesity.

Obesity is also a risk factor for gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy, but it is not a risk factor for type 1 diabetes.

An inactive lifestyle is a factor in obesity, and becoming more active can aid weight loss, but there is more to obesity than inactivity.

One 2011 study used accelerometers to measure the activity levels of 2,832 adults, aged 2079 years, for 4 days. Their step counts reduced as their weight increased, but the differences were not as significant as one might predict, particularly for women.

The list below shows the womens weights and how many steps they took per day during this study:

• those with a healthy weight: 8,819 steps
• those with overweight: 8,506 steps
• those with obesity: 7,546 steps

When one considers that someone with overweight or obesity expends more energy with each step, the difference between the groups overall energy expenditures may be even more slight.

This does not mean that physical activity is not essential for good health, but the story is more complex.

Another factor to consider is that not all people are able to perform physical activity. For instance, some physical disabilities can make moving challenging or impossible.

Also, certain mental health issues can severely impact motivation and there appears to be a relationship between depression and obesity, which further deepens the complexity.

Aside from physical and mental health issues, some people with obesity may also have a negative body image, which might make leaving their home a more daunting prospect.

The relationship between obesity and genetics is complex, but someone whose relatives have obesity will not necessarily develop the condition themselves. However, their chance of doing so is higher.

Understanding the role of genes and the environment in isolation is difficult; people who share similar genes often live together and, therefore, may have similar dietary and lifestyle habits.

In 1990, a group of researchers published a study that helped split genes from the environment. The results appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The scientists investigated twins who had been brought up apart and compared them with twins who had been brought up together. In this way, they hoped to tease apart the impact of genetics and the environment. Overall, they conclude:

[G]enetic influences on [BMI] are substantial, whereas the childhood environment has little or no influence.

One twin study from 1986 reached similar conclusions. The researchers found that the weights of adopted children correlated with the weights of their biological parents, but not with those of their adoptive parents.

Although more recent studies have identified a more significant role for the environment, genetics do appear to play an important part in obesity.

In recent years, scientists have searched for the genes that influence the chance of obesity. As the CDC explain, in most people with obesity, no single genetic cause can be identified. Since 2006, genome-wide association studies have found more than 50 genes associated with obesity, most with very small effects.

One gene that is linked to obesity is a variant of a gene called FTO. This variant, according to one 2011 study, is associated with a 2030% increased chance of obesity.

Although genetics are important, this does not mean that obesity is inevitable for someone whose relatives have the condition. The above study, which involved individuals with the FTO gene variant, looked at the role of exercise. As the paper explains:

Using data from over 218,000 adults, the authors found that carrying a copy of the susceptibility gene increased the odds of obesity by 1.23-fold. But the size of this influence was 27% less in the genetically susceptible adults who were physically active.

A review and meta-analysis that investigated the same gene variant came to a similar conclusion. The authors explain that people with the FTO variant respond equally well to [] weight loss interventions and thus genetic predisposition to obesity associated with the FTO minor allele can be at least partly counteracted through such interventions.

However, it is important to reiterate the point that these interventions alone may not be helpful for some people.

This is a myth. There are several conditions associated with obesity. For instance, obesity increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and some mental health conditions.

That said, even modest weight loss can provide health benefits. According to the CDC, weight loss of 510% of your total body weight is likely to produce health benefits, such as improvements in blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugars.

Also, a review of existing literature in the BMJ concludes that weight loss interventions may reduce premature all-cause mortality in adults with obesity.

Obesity is highly prevalent. Currently, the stigma surrounding the condition is unhelpful and can be damaging. We need to address it whenever we encounter it.

Overweight Beagles Lifespan How Obesity can affect their health

These adorable little cuddle-monsters will eat anything that they can fit into their mouth. Beagles love to eat. I wont be surprised if my beagle jumps and grabs all the pancakes and eat them in one go, even right after having his meal. Due to their obsession with eating, beagles are prone to obesity. This affects their health drastically. Lets look into the average lifespan of an overweight beagle.

According to the data published by Banfield Pet Hospital, on average, the lifespan of overweight beagles is 2 years shorter than the beagles with normal weight. While beagles with healthy weight live for 15 years, overweight beagles live for 13 years.

Lets look into more about the research conducted to find how weight can affect a dogs lifespan. We will also see how you can find out if your beagle is overweight.

What does the research say

A study was conducted by Banfield Pet Hospital, where scientists examined how weight can have a negative or positive effect on the lifespan of a dog. The research was done over two decades and included popular breeds like labrador retrievers and beagles. You can find the Journal here:

Association between life span and body condition in neutered client-owned dogs.

This study examined more than 50,000 dogs of a 12 different breed, both male and female, and aged between 6 1/2 and 8 1/2 years.

The research proved that overweight dogs have a shorter lifespan compared to dogs with a healthy weight.

The lifespan of an overweight beagle is reduced by 2 years. While a male beagle with a healthy weight lives for 15.2 years, an overweight one lives for 13.2 years. A female beagle with normal weight lives of 15.3 years, and an overweight female lives for 13.3 years.

How to find if your beagle is overweight

A healthy weight for a male adult beagle is 22 to 35 pounds (10 to 15 kg). Whereas, 20 to 30 pounds (9 to 13 kg) is healthy for a female beagle.

According to AKC, there are two varieties of beagle:

1. Beagles whos full-grown size stand under 13 inches at the shoulder.
2. Beagles whos full-grown size stand between 13 to 15 inches at the shoulder.

A healthy weight of these two types of beagles is:

• Under 13 inches: 22 to 30 pounds (10 to 13.6 kg)
• Between 13 and 15 inches: 25 to 35 pounds (11 to 15.8 kg)

Anything above this is considered overweight.

Other ways to tell if your beagle is overweight

There are some other ways to confirm that your beagle is overweight. Lets have a look into them.

Note: The ways mentioned below are for adult beagles only. Its okay for a puppy to look chubby or fat even after feeding healthy food. They are supposed to carry extra weight.

Check their ribs

You can put your hand on your beagles ribs and gently apply a little pressure. Healthy beagles have a layer of skin with thin fats over them, and you can feel the ribs.

And if you can feel a good amount of fats before you can feel the ribs, then your pooch is overweight.

And in case if the ribs of a beagle are visible and popping out of his skin, then the beagle is underweight.

They look chubby

Beagles are hunting dogs, and the breed, in general, is athletic, and so is their body. You can easily spot an overweight beagle by looking at them. They are chubby and have lots of fats on their body.

They are not flexible.

Overweight beagles struggle to scratch behind their ears and find it difficult to lick their other body parts.

They get tired easily.

Healthy beagles are a powerhouse of energy. They love to play and run.

However, an overweight beagle will struggle to run and get tired quickly. They become lazy and lethargy.

Why overweight beagles have a shorter lifespan

Obesity in beagles can create lots of health concerns and invite diseases that can reduce their lifespans.

Lets discuss some common health risks found in overweight beagles.

Sugar Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus or sugar diabetes is prevalent in overweight beagles. Obesity increases insulin secretion. If it keeps increasing over a long period, it can burn out cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, which results in diabetes.

Complications in Joints, bones, and ligaments

As the bodyweight of the beagle increases, the pressure on joints and bones increases too, causing severe damage over time. Overweight can cause joint problems, arthritis, and hip dysplasia.

Heart disease

The heart needs to pump more blood in an overweight body. This can cause congestive heart failure.

Hypertension (increased blood pressure)

Excess body weight can cause increased blood pressure in dogs too. You can read more about it here.

Other common health concerns

Other common health concerns in overweight beagles include difficulty breathing, decreased stamina, decreased liver function, digestive disorders, lower immunity, and a higher risk of cancer. You can read about these complications in detail here.

All these diseases and health complications are caused by excess body weight in beagles. This increases the chances of early death and results in shorter lifespans.

Helping your Beagle to Lose weight

Please consult a certified veterinarian first before you come to any conclusion. If your vet has confirmed that your dog is overweight and needs to lose some pounds, then its time to become strict with your beagles diet and routine.

Step 1: Try to make this as fun as possible for your beagle.

Begin with a positive mindset. In any case, losing weight should not be a negative experience for your beagle.

Try to keep things excited and fun for both of you.

Step 2: Slow and Steady Wins the race.

Set a realistic goal that can be achieved over a period of a comfortable time. The plan is to transform your dog slowly but steadily.

Setting unrealistic goals for quick results will put your beagle through a lot of physical as well as mental stress. And we dont want that.

Losing 1 to 2 pounds a month seems like a safe and reasonable goal.

Step 3: Feeding Guide

Two things you need to check:

• What are you feeding
• How much are you feeding

Ask yourself, what are you feeding your dog? Is it healthy? If its not, then try finding a healthier option.

Weight-loss dog food for your beagle should have more protein, less fat, and fewer calories.

My top three suggestion of dog food for weight loss are:

The second thing to look for is how much are you feeding your canine. You neither want to overfeed nor underfeed him. Every dog food has its own feeding guide printed on its package, so follow that to find the correct quantity.

One more thing to keep in check is the treats that you feed him. The number of treats and snacks must be reduced. Try switching to a low-calorie treat. My recommendation for a healthy low calorie treats:

Step 4: Exercise

Regular exercise is essential for keeping your beagle in shape and increase his lifespan.

Overexercising your beagle out of his capacity can cause joint or bone injury.Ask your veterinarian or a dog trainer to create an exercise plan for your beagle according to his weight.

Apart from that, make sure your pooch drinks enough water while exercising so that he doesnt overheat.

You can go through these 7 best ways for beagle to lose weight.

Final Thoughts

Beagles are supposed to be active and healthy. If you stop exercising your beagle and allow them to eat unhealthy food, then it will most definitely cause him to overweight and decrease his lifespan.