Milk, Cheese Help Burn Fat, Dairy Industry Says

Could adding cheese to your meal actually help you lose weight?

The national dairy industry announced Friday results from a small, 24-week study that found three to four daily servings of dairy aids in weight loss.

The study, published Friday in the journal Obesity Research, found that adults on a reduced-calorie diet who consumed three to four servings of dairy each day lost an average of 24 pounds. Researchers said the weight loss was significant compared to adults who ate little or no dairy products.

Researchers also suggested that eating dairy products -- such as milk, cheese or yogurt -- aids in burning fat in the abdominal region. They said the mix of essential nutrients in dairy foods, including calcium and protein, appears to speed up metabolism and improve the body's ability to burn fat.

"By reducing body fat in the abdominal region, people may also reduce their risk of developing several chronic diseases, including heart disease and hypertension," said lead researcher Michael Zemel, the director of the Nutrition Institute at the University of Tennessee.

"The fact that three to four servings of dairy foods daily may help with weight loss, in addition to building strong bones, is great news because people love to eat milk, cheese and yogurt," said Ann Marie Krautheim, a registered dietitian representing the National Dairy Council.

The researchers separated 32 obese adults into three groups, consisting of the following:

Group 1: Low in calcium and dairy

Group 2: High in calcium supplements, but low in dairy

Group 3: High in dairy -- at least three to four servings of milk, cheese or yogurt every day.

Each person consumed a diet that was 500 calories lower than their normal caloric intake and were able to choose from fat-free, low-fat and regular dairy products.

After 24 weeks, those in the third group lost the greatest percentage of total body weight (11 percent), significantly more than those in the second group (9 percent) and the first group (6 percent).

Study Abstract