 |
|
Milk, Dairy Fat, Dietary Calcium, and Weight Gain
A Longitudinal Study of Adolescents
Catherine S. Berkey, ScD;
Helaine R. H. Rockett, MS, RD;
Walter C. Willett, MD, DrPH;
Graham A. Colditz, MD, DrPH
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159:543-550.
Background Milk is promoted as a healthy beverage for children, but some researchers believe that estrone and whey protein in dairy products may cause weight gain. Others claim that dairy calcium promotes weight loss.
Objective To assess the associations between milk, calcium from foods and beverages, dairy fat, and weight change over time.
Design, Subjects, and Outcome Measure We followed a cohort of 12 829 US children, aged 9 to 14 years in 1996, who returned questionnaires by mail through 1999. Children annually reported their height and weight and completed food frequency questionnaires regarding typical past-year intakes. We estimated associations between annual change in body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) and our dietary factors, adjusted for adolescent growth and development, race, physical activity, inactivity, and (in some models) total energy intake.
Results Children who drank more than 3 servings a day of milk gained more in BMI than those who drank smaller amounts (boys:  ± SE, 0.076 ± 0.038 [P = .04] more than those who drank 1 to 2 glasses a day; girls: ± SE, 0.093 ± 0.034 [P = .007] more than those who drank 0 to 0.5 glass a day). For boys, milk intake was associated with small BMI increases during the year ( ± SE, 0.019 ± 0.009 per serving a day; P = .03); results were similar for girls ( ± SE, 0.015 ± 0.007 per serving a day; P = .04). Quantities of 1% milk (boys) and skim milk (girls) were significantly associated with BMI gain, as was total dietary calcium intake. Multivariate analyses of milk, dairy fat, calcium, and total energy intake suggested that energy was the most important predictor of weight gain. Analyses of year-to-year changes in milk, calcium, dairy fat, and total energy intakes provided generally similar conclusions; an increase in energy intake from the prior year predicted BMI gain in boys (P = .003) and girls (P = .03).
Conclusions Children who drank the most milk gained more weight, but the added calories appeared responsible. Contrary to our hypotheses, dietary calcium and skim and 1% milk were associated with weight gain, but dairy fat was not. Drinking large amounts of milk may provide excess energy to some children.
Author Affiliations: Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School (Drs Berkey, Willett, and Colditz and Ms Rockett), and Departments of Nutrition (Dr Willett) and Epidemiology (Drs Willett and Colditz), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass.
RELATED LETTERS
Dairy and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Wrong Conclusions
John McDougall
Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(20):2434.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Why Blame Milk?
Joan M. Lappe
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159(12):1187-1188.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Why Blame Milk?—Reply
Catherine S. Berkey
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159(12):1188.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Dairy consumption and 6-y changes in body weight and waist circumference in middle-aged French adults
Vergnaud et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2008;88:1248-1255.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Effects of replacing the habitual consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages with milk in Chilean children
Albala et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2008;88:605-611.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
17{beta}-Estradiol and Estrone Concentrations in Plasma and Milk During Bovine Pregnancy
Pape-Zambito et al.
J DAIRY SCI 2008;91:127-135.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Early protein intake and later obesity risk: which protein sources at which time points throughout infancy and childhood are important for body mass index and body fat percentage at 7 y of age?
Gunther et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2007;86:1765-1772.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Is higher dairy consumption associated with lower body weight and fewer metabolic disturbances? The Hoorn Study
Snijder et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2007;85:989-995.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Are Dietary Intakes and Eating Behaviors Related to Childhood Obesity? A Comprehensive Review of the Evidence
Newby
J Law Med Ethics 2007;35:35-60.
Association between dairy food consumption and weight change over 9 y in 19 352 perimenopausal women
Rosell et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2006;84:1481-1488.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
A new proposed guidance system for beverage consumption in the United States
Popkin et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2006;83:529-542.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Why Blame Milk?
Lappe
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005;159:1187-1188.
FULL TEXT
Why Blame Milk?--Reply
Berkey
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005;159:1188-1188.
FULL TEXT
The Role of Dairy Foods in Weight Management
Zemel
J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 2005;24:537S-546S.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Dairy and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Wrong Conclusions
McDougall
Arch Intern Med 2005;165:2434-2434.
FULL TEXT
Dairy Data Deliver Mixed Messages
Holman
DOC News 2005;2:8-9.
FULL TEXT
|
