Don’t Drop Milk and Dairy Products While Dieting
Reported November 14, 2005
New Study Published in Obesity Research
ROSEMONT, Ill., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ — New research published in the
October issue of Obesity Research, suggests that people shouldn’t cut milk and
other dairy products out of their diets when trying to lose weight.
In this year-long clinical trial conducted at the University of Vermont,
overweight and obese adults consuming 3-4 servings of dairy a day as part of a
reduced-calorie diet lost a significant amount of weight and body fat.
Researchers monitored the diet progress of 44 study participants, who were
either on a high-dairy diet (3-4 servings of dairy/1200-1400 mg calcium) or
lower dairy diet (about one serving/400-500 mg calcium). The daily energy
deficit — which is caloric restriction combined with exercise — was
approximately 500-650 calories per day, varying between subjects. After six
months, adults on the high-dairy diet saw an average body fat decrease of 27.5
percent and after 12 months, they had lost an average of nearly 24 pounds.
“This study confirms that you can consume up to four servings of dairy a
day and still lose weight,” said Greg Miller, PhD, senior vice president,
nutrition and product innovation, National Dairy Council. “A growing body of
scientific research continues to strengthen the connection between dairy
consumption and weight management.”
Previously published clinical trials have found that overweight and obese
adults who consumed 3 servings of dairy each day lost twice as much weight and
fat as those on low-dairy diets (one serving or less), when the groups had
similar reductions in calories. Additionally, numerous population-based
studies show a connection between a diet adequate in calcium and lower body
weight.
Because dairy products naturally contain calcium, protein and other
essential nutrients, getting 3 servings each day improves the nutritional
quality of the diet, whether you are dieting or not. However, most Americans
are not consuming the recommended amounts of calcium and dairy foods.
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002),
86 percent of American women and 76 percent of men do not meet the current
dairy recommendations.
For more information about the science behind the dairy and weight-loss
connection, visit http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org or
http://www.2424milk.com . In addition, delicious recipes and tips on how to
get 3-A-Day of Dairy are available at http://www.3aday.org .
The American Dairy Association/National Dairy Council (ADA/NDC) is managed
by Dairy Management, Inc., the nonprofit domestic and international planning
and management organization responsible for increasing demand for U.S.-
produced dairy products on behalf of America’s dairy farmers.
Source:
Harvey-Berino J, et al. The impact of dairy product consumption on weight
loss. Obesity Research. 2005;13:1720-1726.