Clinical Aspects of Obesity

Obesity is the most common form of malnutrition in dogs and cats in the United States 1. A 1974 report noted the prevalence of obesity in cats was only 6-12 % 2. More recently, two national studies using body condition scores to establish weight categories reported approximately 3035% of dogs and cats visiting private veterinary practices are overweight to obese. 1,3 And, nearly 50% of the cats between the ages of 5 and 10 were overweight or obese. Despite the fact that veterinarians physically assessed this large proportion of cats as overweight or obese, obesity was diagnosed in only 1.6% of this population. Why are we, as veterinarians, reluctant to diagnose and treat obesity in our small animal patients? The answer is multi-fold but 3 key factors are important: 1) the impact of obesity on the health and well-being of cats has not immediate; 2) the long-term success of our current obesity treatment programs has been disappointing; and 3) perceived negative social interaction with the client. Many veterinarians are concerned their advice will seem judgmental or imply owner incompetence. Ironically, owners tended to score their cats heavier than did the veterinarians in one study (Fig. 1). One wonders if these veterinarians politeness clouded their objectivity during examination or if owners are actually more critical of their pets' condition.