Drinking whole milk may reduce risk of childhood obesity

For the study, the researchers used data from the large CHILD cohort project, a long-term study that tracks the health of children from the prenatal period to adolescence. Parents reported the type of milk their children drank (whole, 2%, 1%, or skim). The analysis was conducted when the children were five and eight years old and included measures such as body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, fat mass, and assessment of pre-obesity and obesity. More than 90% of children consumed milk before the age of five. Of these, about a quarter drank whole milk, and about half drank less than one cup per day. Despite moderate consumption, children who drank whole milk at age five had a lower BMI and were 69% less likely to be obese by age eight compared to those who drank skim milk.

The researchers also noticed a general trend: the higher the fat content of the milk, the better the indicators associated with the level of body fat in children. These results call into question previous recommendations from health authorities. For example, in Canada, until 2019, it was advised to switch children from whole milk to lower-fat options after two years. A similar approach was previously used in the US recommendations for 2020-2025, but now the US already allows the inclusion of whole milk in school meals as part of updated approaches to child nutrition.

Switching to skim milk is commonly seen as a way to reduce fat intake, but this may not take into account the broader nutritional context, the researchers said. As the authors note, removing fat alone does not automatically make skim milk healthier for the baby. Scientists have not yet studied why whole milk might be associated with a lower risk of obesity. Possible explanations include higher satiety, which may reduce overall calorie intake, as well as effects on metabolism and energy balance.