“Our original hypothesis was that children who drank high-fat milk, either whole milk or 2% would be heavier because they were consuming more saturated-fat calories. In a study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood in March, scientists found that kids who drank lower-fat milks were actually more likely to be overweight later on. Reduced-fat foods and drinks may not be as filling, so consumers may end up compensating for the lack of calories and eating or drinking more. But Ludwig and Willett note that there isn’t much evidence to support the idea that drinking lower-calorie beverages in general leads to lower-calorie intake. A cup of low-fat milk contains fewer calories than a cup of whole milk. Low-fat foods do not lower calorie consumption: Low-fat versions are supposed to reduce the amount of calories that people eat, and in an absolute sense, they do. Walter Willett, chair of the department of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, argue that there is actually little data to support the idea that skim and low-fat milk lead to better health outcomes than whole milk. ( MORE: Skim Milk May Not Lower Obesity Risk Among Children)īut is it based on solid scientific evidence? In an editorial in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, Ludwig and nutrition expert Dr. David Ludwig, director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. “It is one of the most long-standing and consistent nutritional recommendations in the United States, going back 50 years essentially,” says Dr. Because whole milk contains a considerable number of calories from fat, however, nutritionists have advised people to pick up skim, 1%-fat or 2%-fat versions instead, with the idea that they provide the same calcium and vitamin D for the bones, but without the weight gain that can increase risk of heart disease and diabetes. Department of Agriculture recommends that everyone older than age 9 consume three cups of dairy, which includes milk, cheese and yogurt, a day.

But that may not help them to avoid obesity. Follow American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Heart Association recommend that children drink skim or low-fat milk after age 2.

Skim milk nutrition facts