Whole fat milk as good for kids as low fat: Study

This experiment was a part of the Milky Way study

A world-first study from Australia based Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found whole fat milk is just as good for kids as low fat.

The research, published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests current public health advice recommending children over the age of two consume low fat dairy products may need to be revised. ECU’s Associate Professor Therese O’Sullivan led the investigation into the consumption of full-fat dairy products in children as part of the Milky Way study.

For the first time, researchers comprehensively measured the children’s obesity, body composition, blood pressure, and blood biomarkers to monitor the effects of their dairy consumption. Regardless of whether they were consuming whole fat or low-fat dairy, both groups of children took in similar amounts of calories.

Professor O’Sullivan said the findings showed no significant differences between the groups’ obesity or cardiovascular health.

“It had previously been thought young children would benefit from low fat dairy products due to their lower levels of saturated fats and lower density of energy, in turn helping avoid obesity and risk of associated cardiometabolic diseases,” she said.