When a study came out in 2003 saying that increasing dairy intake would help burn fat and speed up metabolism, the dairy industry milked it for all it was worth.
The United States Department of Agriculture now recommends that adults and children get three servings of dairy per day. The National Dairy Council boasts several studies at the University of Tennessee, which found that combining dairy consumption with lower calorie intake and exercise could help people lose more weight than those consuming a diet with little or no dairy.
In one 12 week study of 34 obese adults, those who ate three servings of yogurt a day and moderately reduced the amount of calories they consumed lost 66 percent more body fat than those who reduced calories but ate few dairy products, according to the National Dairy Council.
The idea is that the more calcium that gets into the bloodstream, the more fat the body burns off.
"Calcium is a nutrient that many young people don't get enough of," said Janice Cochran, a nutritionist and dietician for the Health and Wellness Center.
Cochran has concerns however, that the findings of this single study are being taken as fact without the consideration that there may be alternative reasons for the results.
She pointed out that the studies that link consuming dairy and shedding pounds were all done by the same group and funded by the National Dairy Council. A reliable health claim can come only after hundreds of research and experiments are done to prove the theory.
The dairy industry, however, came out with advertisements and campaigns pushing their products as the newest easy way to get a slimmer body as soon as the first study was published.
Several leading dairy companies like Kraft Foods Inc. and the Dannon Co. Inc. were even sued in 2005 by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine for making false claims about the fat-burning power of dairy.
"I would encourage students to be critical consumers," Cochran said. "Of course anyone is going to want to profit off any health claim."
Besides being a rich source of calcium, dairy also contains a good amount of protein. According to Cochran, the three-a-day dairy recommendation will give people about half of their protein needs, which means other sources of protein in the diet may need to be cut back.
"Most people already get more than enough protein," Cochran said.
With many Americans consuming high levels of animal protein from meats, taking in dairy foods rich with the nutrient could cause more harm than good. High amounts of protein can cause a loss of calcium in the body. And without exercise to burn off excess protein, it is instead converted into fat, according to Cochran.
Additionally, it is important for people who are overweight and those of normal weight to make sure to buy low-fat or nonfat dairy when getting the three-a-day recommendation.
Depending on where the information is coming from, drinking more milk and eating more cheese can be seen as beneficial or harmful. Others studies conducted since the original weight-loss claim have both backed it and refuted it. Cochran said that the effects of dairy intake are dependent on the person, their diet and lifestyle, as well as their genetic makeup.
"I think I gain weight when I'm eating more dairy," said Ben Barigel, a sophomore architecture major.
One thing is for sure, however. Dairy contains some essential nutrients. Calcium and protein are necessary for keeping bones and teeth healthy and nerve and muscle function, along with many other bodily functions. But getting these nutrients from just milk or just meat isn't as beneficial as varying the kinds of food you eat.
"I would encourage with any nutrient, getting multiple sources," Cochran said.
Upon coming to college, many students feel that their diets become less nutritious because dining halls offer more fatty foods than healthy ones.
"I probably get absolutely no dairy in my diet," said Paige Loewy, a freshman nursing major. "My nutrition has been horrible since college started."
But for others, avoiding the freshman fifteen is possible through making the right choices, even if that means making the trip to the market and cooking your own dinners.
Baked chicken, fish and lentil soup can be spiced up with flavors and still provide a healthy source of protein. Low-fat milk and yogurt is offered at food courts on campus. And for those to whom dairy is not appealing, tofu, leafy greens and broccoli are packed with calcium.
When it comes to trying a three-a-day dairy diet, remember that not all experts are convinced of the studies' results. Regardless of the differing opinions, the bottom line for diets is that restricting caloric intake and adding more physical activity into daily life is the sure-fire way to shed pounds.
Diet fads will continue to get mass media attention, though, because "weight loss is a type of issue that attracts magic solutions," Cochran said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
