Eating plenty of dairy products may help prevent young children from becoming obese, according to a study by University of Tennessee researchers published in the April 2001 issue of the International Journal of Obesity. Drs. Betty Carruth and Jean Skinner of UT documented the eating habits and growth patterns of 53 preschool children over a three-year period to determine if a higher intake of calcium-rich foods could have an effect on body composition.
Over the last 30 years, obesity has become a serious health problem for American children. The latest data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) show that 12 to 14 percent of children aged 6 to 18 are overweight. Rates among preschool children range from 8 to 12 percent.
There is concern that parents trying to meet the current guidelines limiting fat to 30% of the daily diet may feed their children fewer dairy products -- the most nutritionally dense source of calcium.
Carruth and Skinner recruited families from middle and upper socioeconomic status to cut out effects associated with poverty and limited access to health care. They found that parents in this group did not limit the dairy foods their children could eat -- and that more servings of dairy were associated with lower body fat.
The findings are consistent with results from recent research published by UT's Dr. Michael Zemel showing a connection between higher levels of dietary calcium and reduced body fat -- or less gain of body fat over time.
Initial data collection for the study on preschool children was funded by Gerber Products Company and the UT Agricultural Experiment Station.
Related websites:
NHANES Survey
UT Department of Nutrition
[Contact: Dr. Betty Carruth, Dr. Jean Skinner]
16-May-2001
