The Effect of Dairy and Calcium on Childhood Obesity

Novotny R, Daida Y, Acharya S, et al.: Dairy intake is associated with lower body fat and soda intake with greater weight in adolescent girls. J Nutr 134:1905-1909, 2004.

What is the problem and what is known about it?

More children are overweight now than ever before. Being overweight can lead to many health problems, like diabetes and heart disease. Meanwhile, children are drinking a lot less milk and a lot more sugary sodas and juices.

Researchers want to know how dairy products (like milk, yogurt, and cheese) and calcium affect childrens' weight.

Who was studied?

Doctors looked at 323 girls from Oahu, Hawaii, between March 2000 and June 2001. All the girls were healthy and ranged in age from 9-14 years. The girls were either white, Asian, Pacific Islander, or a mix of two or more.

How was the study done?

Researchers asked the girls to write what they ate for three days straight. The researchers also wanted to know if the girls were taking a calcium or vitamin pill every day. The doctors then looked at all the kinds of food the girls were eating and decided how nutritious the girls' diets were.

The girls' weight, height and skin thickness was measured. The researchers also asked them about any activities they did to help understand how much exercise they got.

What were the results?

The girls who consumed more calcium from food or dairy products, who did a lot of exercise, and had the thinnest skin had the lowest body fat. The girls who drank more soda weighed more.

What were the limitations of this study?

Part of this study was based on how well the girls and their parents could remember what they had eaten. Therefore, the results might not have been totally accurate.

What are the conclusions?

Kids who want to keep their body weight low should drink less soda pop and sweetened juices and take in more milk and other dairy products. Calcium is an important mineral for the body. Avoiding soda and eating more dairy products may be especially important for Asians who want to control their weight.