Cross‐sectional and prospective associations between milk and adiposity in children

This study examined cross‐sectional and prospective associations between milk and % body fat among 2,245 children aged 10 to 13y from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Plausible reporters were characterized based on ratios of energy intake to predicted energy expenditure. Multivariable linear regression (total, full fat and reduced fat milk) and general linear models (flavored milk consumers) modeled associations adjusted for age, sex, height, pubertal status, dietary intakes, physical activity, baseline BMI, and maternal characteristics. Greater intake of full fat milk was inversely associated with % body fat at ages 11 and 13y in cross‐sectional analyses (β=−0.48, 95%CI: −0.73, −0.24, P <0.001 for age 11 y; β=−0.47, 95%CI: −0.76, −0.19, P =0.001 for age 13y); similar associations were seen with adjustment for calcium and total energy and among plausible reporters only. No associations were observed for total or reduced fat milk. Change in total, full fat, and reduced fat milk was not associated with change in % body fat ( P >0.10 for all). Flavored milk consumption was not associated with % body fat (adjusted mean (SE): −0.58 (0.24) vs . −1.05 (0.1), P =0.07 for consumers vs. non‐consumers). Our results support findings from other prospective studies that have reported no association between milk intake and adiposity among children. This study was supported by the American Diabetes Association.