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Title: Longitudinal association between dairy consumption and changes of body weight and waist circumference: the Framingham Heart Study

Author
item WANG, HUIFEN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item TROY, LISA - University Of Massachusetts
item ROGERS, GAIL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item FOX, CAROLINE - National Heart, Lung And Blood Institute(NHLBI, NIH)
item MCKEOWN, NICOLA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item MEIGS, JAMES - Massachusetts General Hospital
item JACQUES, PAUL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: International Journal of Obesity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/8/2013
Publication Date: 2/1/2014
Citation: Wang, H., Troy, L.M., Rogers, G.T., Fox, C.S., Mckeown, N.M., Meigs, J.B., Jacques, P.F. 2014. Longitudinal association between dairy consumption and changes of body weight and waist circumference: the Framingham Heart Study. International Journal of Obesity. 38(2):299-305. DOI:10.1038/ijo.2013.78.

Interpretive Summary: The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically both worldwide and in the United States. Obesity, especially abdominal obesity (or obesity around the waist as indicated by a greater waist girth), is known to be a major risk factor for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is possible that consuming dairy products may help people to maintain a healthier weight; however, research studies examining this idea have yielded inconsistent results and have been difficult to interpret. Some shorter-term studies have indicated that eating dairy products can help to modestly promote weight loss; however, longer-term studies are needed. Our study aimed to examine the association between consumption of different types of dairy products and long-term changes in weight and waist circumference (waist girth) among American adults. We utilized data from the Framingham Heart Study, following subjects (n=3,440 participants) over the course of, on average, 13 years (follow-up period). On average, gains in weight and waist circumference were observed during the study follow-up period. Reported consumption of dairy products also increased over the follow-up period. Interestingly, we found that participants who consumed 3 or more servings of dairy per day exhibited smaller gains in weight than those consuming less than 1 serving of dairy per day. Higher total dairy intake was also marginally associated with less gain in waist circumference. Participants who consumed 3 or more servings per week of yogurt had smaller gains in weight than those consuming less than 1 serving per week. These results held true even after we accounted for other factors such as demographics, lifestyle behaviors, and the other non-dairy foods that people eat. Thus, our results indicate that dairy products and, in particular yogurt, may help to prevent weight gain. However, further studies examining this possible link between dairy and weight are needed.

Technical Abstract: Dairy foods are nutrient dense and may be protective against long-term weight gain. We aimed to examine the longitudinal association between dairy consumption and annualized changes in weight and waist circumference (WC) in adults. Members of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort who participated in the fifth through eighth study examinations (1991-2008) were included in these analyses (3440 participants with 11'683 observations). At each exam, dietary intake was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire, and weight and WC were assessed following standardized procedures. Repeated measures models were used for the longitudinal analyses of annualized weight and waist circumference changes, adjusting for time-varying or invariant covariates. On average, participants gained weight and WC during follow-up. Dairy intake increased across exams. After adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors (including diet quality), participants who consumed greater than or equal to 3 servings per day of total dairy had 0.10'kg (+/-0.04) smaller annualized increment of weight (P(trend)=0.04) than those consuming <1 serving per day. Higher total dairy intake was also marginally associated with less WC gain (P(trend)=0.05). Similarly, participants who consumed greater than or equal to 3 servings per week of yogurt had a 0.10'kg (+/-0.04) and 0.13'cm (+/-0.05) smaller annualized increment of weight (P(trend)=0.03) and WC (P(trend)=0.008) than those consuming <1 serving per week, respectively. Skim/low-fat milk, cheese, total high-fat or total low-fat dairy intake were not associated with long-term change in weight or WC. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted to confirm the beneficial role of increasing total dairy and yogurt intake, as part of a healthy and calorie-balanced dietary pattern, in the long-term prevention of gain in weight and WC.