June is National Dairy Month
June 02, 2009
NEW STUDY FINDS TEENS WITH
HIGHER DAIRY INTAKE HAVE LOWER BODY FAT
Three Servings of Dairy Each Day a Core Part of Healthy
Diet
Rosemont, Ill – February 6, 2009 – A
new study released in the December 2008 Journal of American College
of Nutrition found that adolescents who consumed closer to the
recommended three servings of dairy foods per day had a lower body
mass index (BMI) and less body fat than those with lower daily
dairy consumption.(1)
“Our research found that adolescents who consumed less dairy had
consistently higher levels of body fat,” said Dr. Lynn Moore,
Boston University School of Medicine and lead author of the study.
“The results further support existing evidence that consuming
low-fat and fat-free dairy products as part of a healthy diet may
protect against adding excess body fat for adolescents.”
The study explored the association between dairy consumption and
body fat among more than 10,000 U.S. children and adolescents
participating in two of the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Surveys (NHANES), from 1988-1994 and 1999-2002. Results
showed that, in both survey periods, a low dairy intake among 12-16
year-olds—less than one serving per day for girls and less than two
servings per day for boys—was associated with a higher BMI and
greater body fat. Additionally, similar results were seen when
examining total calcium intake in relation to body fat among the
same age range. However, among younger children, ages 5-11, there
was no consistent association between dairy or calcium intake and
body fat levels.
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) encourages children
and adolescents 9 years of age and older to consume three servings
of low-fat or fat-free milk, cheese or yogurt each day.(2) The DGA
identified five “nutrients of concern” for which children have
inadequate intakes—fiber, vitamin E, calcium, potassium and
magnesium. Dairy foods supply three of these shortfall
nutrients—calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Flavored milk is a nutritious and delicious solution to help
children come closer to meeting these recommendations. Research
demonstrates that children and adolescents who drink either
flavored or plain milk consume more nutrients and have a lower or
comparable BMI than children who don’t drink milk.(3) Additionally,
added sugar or fat consumption does not differ in children who
drink flavored milk compared to children who do not drink milk, but
flavored milk drinkers do have higher calcium intakes.(4)
“Encouraging kids to eat three servings of low-fat or fat-free
milk, cheese or yogurt each day is an easy way to help them build
and maintain strong, healthy bones, muscles and teeth,” said Ann
Marie Krautheim, M.A., R.D., L.D., senior vice president of
Nutrition Affairs for National Dairy Council. “At a time when
childhood obesity is one of our most urgent health concerns, it is
critical to work to improve children’s health by educating and
collaborating with health professionals, schools and parents to
ensure that our nation’s youth reap the many health benefits of
dairy’s unique package of several essential nutrients.”
The dairy industry has made improvements to increase milk’s appeal to children, including plastic packaging, one or more additional flavors, and better refrigeration and merchandising, resulting in a 37% increase in school milk consumption.(5) The National Dairy Council is also working with industry partners to develop flavored milk formulations that will appeal to children, schools and moms, including reduced-sugar and low-fat and fat-free varieties.
For more information on the health benefits of dairy foods, visit
www.NationalDairyCouncil.org.
References:
1. Moore LL, Singer MR, Qureshi MM, Bradlee ML. Dairy Intake and
Anthropometric Measures of Body Fat Among Children and Adolescents
in NHNES. Journal of the American College of Nutrition
2008;27:702-710.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department
of Agriculture. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005. 6th
Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, January
2005.
3. Murphy MM, Douglass JS, Johnson RK, Spence LA. Drinking flavored
or plain milk is positively associated with nutrient intake and is
not associated with adverse effects on weight status in U.S.
children and adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic
Association. 2008;108:631-639.
4. Johnson, et al. The nutritional consequences of flavored milk
consumption by school-aged children and adolescents in the United
States. Journal of the American Dietetic Association
2002;102:853-856.
5. National Dairy Council and American School Food Service
Association. The School Milk Pilot Test. Beverage Marketing
Corporation for NDC and ASFSA, 2002.
Making Nutrient Rich Choices handouts
