Dieting by Dairy

Consuming milk and other dairy products might help people shed unwanted pounds, according to research conducted chiefly--although not exclusively--over the past 7 years by researchers at the University of Tennessee. However, some other studies have challenged the positive findings, leading to the conundrum: Does milk really aid dieters or not?

This morning, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will be weighing in. The agency is commencing a study, which will recruit volunteers for a 15-week trial at its Western Human Nutrition Research Center in Davis, Calif. The men and women must tip the scales at 45 to 100 pounds above their ideal body weight, be healthy, and nonsmokers. The National Dairy Council and Dairy Council of California will be contributing financing for the research.

If you watch much TV, you'll undoubtedly have seen the "Got Milk?" and "24/24" industry campaigns in recent years which have cited the putative weight-reducing benefits of dairy consumption. At least one nutrition-advocacy group--Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine--has petitioned the Federal Trade Commission over these claims, charging that they "are false and misleading, and in violation of federal advertising guidelines."

I guess Uncle Sam is looking to resolve whether there's merit to research claims--or PCRM's petition.