Full-fat dairy products linked to lower weight

Though health-conscious eaters shun whole milk, a study suggests that adults who favour full-fat dairy gain less weight over time.

Swedish researchers found that among more than 19,000 middle-aged women, those who had at least one serving of whole milk or cheese each day put on less weight over the next nine years than women who consumed these foods less often.

The potential role of dairy foods in weight control won much attention after some recent studies suggested that milk, yogurt and other dairy foods might help regulate body fat.

However, the picture is far from clear, as other research has failed to find that dairy products benefit the waistline.

The new findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, are unlikely to clear up the confusion.

For one thing, only whole milk, and not low-fat milk, seemed to offer protection against weight gain. For another, the benefit was seen only among women who were normal-weight at the start of the study.