Higher consumption reduces obesity

According to a report in "Ärztliche Praxis" [Medical Practice], this is the result of a study by the national Italian research institute (CNR) that investigated the links between milk consumption and obesity in children.

The high calcium content of milk stimulates the burning of fat in the cells.

The study was carried out by experts from the Institute for Nutrition Sciences (ISA) based on a sample of 1,000 schoolchildren.

It turned out that young children who do not drink much milk have a comparatively higher proportion of fat in the body than those children who drink milk regularly. This is due to the high calcium content of milk which stimulates the burning of fat in the cells while at the same time inhibiting the growth of fat cells. "The study shows an inverse relationship between milk consumption and adiposity. The more milk you drink, the thinner you become,” according to Gianvincenzo Barba, a scientist from ISA-CNR. "Current studies that were carried out on adults already confirm the positive effect of a calcium-rich diet.” However, the results of this study stand in contrast to the attitude of many people who want to lose weight, who refrain from milk and cheese products in particular in order to reduce the fat content of their diet. However, by doing so they also prevent the intake of calcium that is so important for burning fat, according to the researchers.

"The research results of the study are an important starting point for further research studies on the avoidance of excessive weight and infantile obesity, which is increasingly a phenomenon that can be observed worldwide,” observes Barba. Being overweight in childhood carries an increased risk of obesity in adulthood, which has as a further consequence an increased risk of suffering from heart and circulatory complaints.