Lifestyle
Full-fat dairy products not linked to weight gain, high BP in kids
BY IANS NEWS
Sydney, March 3 (IANS) There is no evidence that consuming full-fat dairy products increases children's risk of obesity or heart disease, says a new study that raises questions about the current dietary advice for children. ## "Dietary guidelines in Australia and other countries recommend children primarily consume reduced-fat dairy products to maintain a healthy weight and good cardiovascular health," said the study's lead author Therese O'Sullivan, Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup, Australia. ## "We found studies were consistent in reporting that whole-fat dairy products were not associated with increased levels of weight gain or obesity," she said. ## Published in the journal Advances in Nutrition, the research reviewed 29 studies from around the world that examined consumption of full-fat dairy products in children. ## The researchers found there was no clear link between the consumption of whole-fat dairy products and weight gain, high cholesterol or high blood pressure in children. ## "Reduced-fat dairy is generally recommended for both adults and children over the age of two years due to its lower energy and saturated fat content," O'Sullivan said. ## "However, studies suggest children who consumed low-fat over full-fat dairy products were actually replacing those calories from fat with other foods. ## "This suggests that low-fat dairy is not as filling as whole-fat dairy, which may lead kids to consume more of other foods. Health effects may depend on what these replacement foods are," she added. ## The research suggests that whole-fat dairy products may play an important role in a balanced diet for growing children. ## "Dairy is a good dietary source of nutrients for healthy development, including protein, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and several vitamins," she said. ## "Even though the fats found in whole-fat dairy are mostly saturated fats, they don't appear to be associated with the same detrimental health effects observed with foods like fatty meats," she added. ## For more and the latest news about Lifestyle, stay tuned to us.