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Educate your patients on the importance of 3-A-Day of Dairy: Here's
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Developed in conjunction with The American Academy of Family
Physicians, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Dietetic
Association, and The National Medical Association.
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Dairy Council Digest Archives
Dairy Foods' Role in Achieving a Healthy Weight
Introduction
Obesity is predicted to become the single most prevalent public health problem in the U.S. More than 15% of 6-through 19 year olds and 65% of adults aged 20-74 years in the U.S. are overweight or obese (1-3). Moreover, both overweight (body mass index or BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 ) and obesity (BMI of 30kg/m2 or greater) have continued to rise in recent decades (4,5). According to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, between1988-1994 and1999-2000 the prevalence of obesity among adults increased from 23% to 31% (6). If this weight gain continues at its present rate, 39% of Americans are estimated to be obese in 2008 (6). Obesity is a major public health threat not only in the U.S., but also worldwide (5-7).
Multiple disease outcomes are related to obesity, including increased risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance syndrome, some cancers (e.g., endometrial, colon, postmenopausal breast), and psychological problems such as depression (5,8). A recent study found that the health-related quality of life of severely obese children and adolescents was similar to that of children and adolescents with cancer (9). Obesity and overweight in adulthood are associated with large decreases in life expectancy and increases in early mortality similar to those seen with smoking (10). Total costs attributed to obesity-related diseases in 2000 were estimated at $117 billion (5).
As a result of the dramatic increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the U.S. and its associated health and financial burden, government officials and politicians, the food and beverage industry, and health professional organizations are desperately seeking ways to reduce the nation’s obesity epidemic. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics (11) and the U.S. Surgeon General (5) have recently recommended strategies to help prevent overweight and obesity. Also, Action for Healthy Kids has identified actions to help prevent or reduce overweight in children (www.actionforhealthykids.com). This initiative is a nationwide collaboration of education, physical activity, health, and nutrition organizations dedicated to improving the health and educational performance of children through better nutrition and physical activity in schools.
The high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States with its associated health and financial burden calls for prevention.
Multiple factors, genetic and environmental, contribute to overweight and obesity. Experts generally agree that a positive energy balance (i.e., excess energy intake relative to energy expenditure) is responsible for the rise in adiposity in the U.S. in recent decades (6). Using data from national surveys, researchers estimate that achieving a small energy deficit (i.e., 100kcal/day) could prevent weight gain in most adults (6). Various strategies, including combinations of reducing calorie intake and increasing physical activity, could be used to achieve this negative energy balance.
Emerging scientific evidence indicates that changes in dietary patterns, such as increasing calcium intake, particularly from dairy foods, which are the major dietary source of calcium, may be part of the solution for achieving a healthy weight (12-18). One researcher recently estimated that increasing calcium intake from currently low levels to recommended dietary intake levels (i.e.,1,200-1,300mg/day) could substantially reduce the prevalence of obesity in the population (19).
Unfortunately, many individuals who are trying to lose weight eliminate or reduce their intake of dairy foods due to fears about weight gain and misperceptions that milk and other dairy foods are fattening. Yet, studies demonstrate that recommended intakes of dairy foods do not cause overweight/obesity (20,21). A recent 10-year observational study which followed178 normal weight girls from pre-adolescence to adolescence found no evidence that consuming dairy foods is associated with higher body mass index or an increase in the percentage of body fat (20).
Including dairy foods as part of a weight loss plan can help people lose weight, according to preliminary observations from a recent community intervention program called Calcium Weighs In. Residents of Calcium, New York, who participated in this 16-week program, lost weight by consuming at least three servings of milk, cheese, or yogurt each day; reducing calories; and increasing daily physical activity (for more information, visit www.healthyweightwithdairy.com). The findings of this program are supported by an accumulating body of scientific research demonstrating that calcium, and particularly dairy foods, play a beneficial role in weight management (12-18). This Digest reviews recent emerging scientific research indicating that increasing intake of calcium, and particularly dairy foods, within the context of appropriate caloric intake, has a beneficial effect on body weight/fat. Potential mechanisms by which calcium and other dairy food components may exert this beneficial effect on body weight/fat are also discussed.
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