Long-term Association Between Dairy Consumption and Risk of Childhood Obesity: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

Overview

Journal Eur J Clin Nutr

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2016 Feb 11

PMID 26862005

Citations 48

Authors

L Lu

P Xun

Y Wan

K He

W Cai

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background/objectives: Data from small-scale, short-term, clinical trials suggest a beneficial effect of dairy consumption on the risk of childhood obesity; however, the long-term association is unclear. Therefore, we aim to examine the longitudinal association between dairy consumption and the risk of overweight/obesity in children and adolescents by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

Subjects/methods: Eligible studies were identified by searching PubMed and EMBASE through March 2015. Additional studies were retrieved via Google Scholar or a hand review of the reference lists from relevant articles. Pooled associations of interest were estimated by using a random-effects model. The heterogeneity for each pooled analysis was evaluated by I(2) statistic as well as by Cochran's Q test. Publication bias was assessed by using both Egger's and Begg's tests.

Results: Ten studies comprising 46,011 children and adolescents with an average 3-year follow-up were included. As compared with those who were in the lowest group of dairy consumption, children in the highest intake group were 38% less likely to have childhood overweight/obesity (pooled odds ratio (OR)=0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.49, 0.80). With each 1 serving/day increment in dairy consumption, the percentage of body fat was reduced by 0.65% (β=0.65; 95% CI: -1.35, 0.06; P=0.07), and the risk of overweight/obesity was 13% lower (OR=0.87; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.98).

Conclusions: Accumulated evidence from prospective cohort studies suggests that dairy consumption is inversely and longitudinally associated with the risk of childhood overweight/obesity. Further studies are warranted to examine the types of dairy products in relation to the risk of childhood overweight/obesity.

Citing Articles

Milk and dairy products - a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023.

Bjorklund Holven K, Sonestedt E Food Nutr Res. 2025; 68.

PMID: 39781268 PMC: 11708500. DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v68.10486.

Terrestrial Animal Source Foods and Health Outcomes for Those with Special Nutrient Needs in the Life Course.

Iannotti L, Rueda Garcia A, Palma G, Fontaine F, Scherf B, Neufeld L Nutrients. 2024; 16(19.

PMID: 39408199 PMC: 11478082. DOI: 10.3390/nu16193231.

Dairy Consumption at Breakfast among Southeast Asian Children: Associations with Nutrient Intake from the South East Asian Nutrition Surveys II (SEANUTS II).

Mikulic N, Khouw I, Ng S, Rojroongwasinkul N, Vongvimetee N, Tran N Nutrients. 2024; 16(19).

PMID: 39408197 PMC: 11478093. DOI: 10.3390/nu16193229.

Effectiveness of a nutrition education intervention using simulation videos and encouragement of parental involvement for elementary school students.

Li S, Chang Y J Nutr Sci. 2024; 13:e35.

PMID: 39345240 PMC: 11428064. DOI: 10.1017/jns.2024.41.

What Determinants Are Related to Milk and Dairy Product Consumption Frequency among Children Aged 10-12 Years in Poland? Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Hamulka J, Czarniecka-Skubina E, Gornicka M, Gebski J, Leszczynska T, Gutkowska K Nutrients. 2024; 16(16).

PMID: 39203791 PMC: 11357169. DOI: 10.3390/nu16162654.

References

Ogden C, Carroll M, Curtin L, McDowell M, Tabak C, Flegal K . Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999-2004. JAMA. 2006; 295(13):1549-55. DOI: 10.1001/jama.295.13.1549. View

Fulgoni 3rd V, Nicholls J, Reed A, Buckley R, Kafer K, Huth P . Dairy consumption and related nutrient intake in African-American adults and children in the United States: continuing survey of food intakes by individuals 1994-1996, 1998, and the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007; 107(2):256-64. DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2006.11.007. View

Newby P, Peterson K, Berkey C, Leppert J, Willett W, Colditz G . Beverage consumption is not associated with changes in weight and body mass index among low-income preschool children in North Dakota. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004; 104(7):1086-94. DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2004.04.020. View

Berkey C, Rockett H, Willett W, Colditz G . Milk, dairy fat, dietary calcium, and weight gain: a longitudinal study of adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005; 159(6):543-50. DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.159.6.543. View

Koontz M, Gunzler D, Presley L, Catalano P . Longitudinal changes in infant body composition: association with childhood obesity. Pediatr Obes. 2014; 9(6):e141-4. PMC: 4702488. DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.253. View

Phillips S, Bandini L, Naumova E, Cyr H, Colclough S, Dietz W . Energy-dense snack food intake in adolescence: longitudinal relationship to weight and fatness. Obes Res. 2004; 12(3):461-72. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2004.52. View

de Onis M, Blossner M, Borghi E . Global prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity among preschool children. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010; 92(5):1257-64. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29786. View

Kral T, Stunkard A, Berkowitz R, Stallings V, Moore R, Faith M . Beverage consumption patterns of children born at different risk of obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008; 16(8):1802-8. PMC: 2917048. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2008.287. View

Johnson L, Mander A, Jones L, Emmett P, Jebb S . Is sugar-sweetened beverage consumption associated with increased fatness in children?. Nutrition. 2007; 23(7-8):557-63. DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2007.05.005. View

10.

Scharf R, Demmer R, DeBoer M . Longitudinal evaluation of milk type consumed and weight status in preschoolers. Arch Dis Child. 2013; 98(5):335-40. PMC: 4439101. DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2012-302941. View

11.

Huh S, Rifas-Shiman S, Rich-Edwards J, Taveras E, Gillman M . Prospective association between milk intake and adiposity in preschool-aged children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010; 110(4):563-70. PMC: 3229928. DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2009.12.025. View

12.

Moore L, Bradlee M, Gao D, Singer M . Low dairy intake in early childhood predicts excess body fat gain. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006; 14(6):1010-8. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2006.116. View

13.

Gopinath B, Flood V, Burlutsky G, Louie J, Baur L, Mitchell P . Pattern and predictors of dairy consumption during adolescence. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2014; 23(4):612-8. DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.2014.23.4.05. View

14.

Livingstone B . Epidemiology of childhood obesity in Europe. Eur J Pediatr. 2000; 159 Suppl 1:S14-34. DOI: 10.1007/pl00014363. View

15.

Bendtsen L, Lorenzen J, Bendsen N, Rasmussen C, Astrup A . Effect of dairy proteins on appetite, energy expenditure, body weight, and composition: a review of the evidence from controlled clinical trials. Adv Nutr. 2013; 4(4):418-38. PMC: 3941822. DOI: 10.3945/an.113.003723. View

16.

Green B, Turner L, Stevenson E, Rumbold P . Short communication: Patterns of dairy consumption in free-living children and adolescents. J Dairy Sci. 2015; 98(6):3701-5. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2014-9161. View

17.

Zemel M . The role of dairy foods in weight management. J Am Coll Nutr. 2005; 24(6 Suppl):537S-46S. DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2005.10719502. View

18.

Noel S, Ness A, Northstone K, Emmett P, Newby P . Milk intakes are not associated with percent body fat in children from ages 10 to 13 years. J Nutr. 2011; 141(11):2035-41. PMC: 3192461. DOI: 10.3945/jn.111.143420. View

19.

Christensen R, Lorenzen J, Svith C, Bartels E, Melanson E, Saris W . Effect of calcium from dairy and dietary supplements on faecal fat excretion: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obes Rev. 2009; 10(4):475-86. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00599.x. View

20.

Tam C, Garnett S, Cowell C, Campbell K, Cabrera G, Baur L . Soft drink consumption and excess weight gain in Australian school students: results from the Nepean study. Int J Obes (Lond). 2006; 30(7):1091-3. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803328. View