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Low-fat dairy won’t help kids lose weight

Kids end up eating more calories from other sources, study shows

Kids who drink low-fat dairy products instead of regular ones don’t seem to lose weight, although they do consume less saturated fat, a new Australian study shows. Researchers found that children who switched to reduced-fat dairy products hadn’t noticeably changed their weight or body mass index (BMI) six months afterwards, seemingly because they ended up eating more calories from other sources, Reuters reports. In the study, the team divided 145 kids aged four to 13 into two groups, and asked one group to replace dairy products with low-fat types for six months; the others got no dietary advice. Both groups consumed the same amount of dairy and the calorie intake stayed similar for the course of the study. The low-fat group consumed less fat, and had a small drop in cholesterol levels, but waistline, BMI and weight stayed the same. Even so, cutting back on saturated fat could help them avoid heart disease as they mature.

Reuters

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