Research strengthens connection between dairy consumption and weight management

28/06/05 A growing body of scientific research continues to strengthen the connection between dairy consumption and weight management. The research indicates that adults who get three servings of milk and milk products each day and follow a reduced-calorie diet are more successful at weight management and weight loss than those who don't. We are happy to share this research and to suggest reputable third-party resources for reporters to contact while researching this topic.

We've worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and leading nutrition experts to communicate to adults that eating three servings each day of milk, cheese or yogurt can help in their weight-loss efforts when coupled with calorie restriction. This is not a "dairy diet," it's a recommendation that people shouldn't cut out milk and dairy products when they're trying to lose weight.

Dairy foods are the richest source of calcium in the American diet and they also provide protein and other vitamins and minerals essential to good health. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines recommend Americans include 3 servings of fat-free or lowfat milk and milk products in their diet each day to ensure adequate consumption of important nutrients such as vitamin A, magnesium and potassium.

While we have not yet had the opportunity to review the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's (PCRM) complaint, we are very familiar with this group's irresponsible tactics. PCRM is an anti-meat, anti-dairy group whose campaigns and views are closely aligned with the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PCRM's leader, psychiatrist Neal Barnard, has been identified as a medical adviser to PETA, and PCRM in the past has received funding from PETA. Only about 5% of PCRM's membership is physicians, and they represent less than 0.5% of the U.S. medical community. PCRM's views in the past have been denounced by many credible health organizations including the American Medical Association, the National Osteoporosis Foundation, and the American Council on Science and Health.

When it comes to nutrition, people should listen to health and nutrition professionals, not an animal rights group. The bottom line is that including three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt each day in a reduced-calorie diet with exercise is a healthy way to lose weight.

International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is the Washington, DC-based organization representing the nation's dairy processing and manufacturing industries and their suppliers. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), National Cheese Institute (NCI) and International Ice Cream Association (IICA). Its 500+ members range from large multinational corporations to single-plant operations, and represent more than 85% of the total volume of milk, cultured products, cheese, and ice cream and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States - an estimated $70-billion a year industry.