Does drinking milk help or hinder you losing weight?

Question

On biggest loser last night they were talking up the benefits of milk helping you lose weight, 8 oz a day of 2% every day, but every diet plan I've ever seen that's the first thing they take out, anything dairy is "forbidden"!

Anyone out there with professional opinions on this, or a successful dieter who found a glass of milk a day actually helped with the weight loss?

Answer 1

I found this article quite informative:

Link between dairy, weight loss unclear:
Few others endorse findings of National Dairy Council and its researchers

Got milk? And high hopes it will help you shed a few pounds? The dairy industry is counting on it, thanks in part to a $200 million ad campaign that confidently touts studies suggesting a connection between consuming dairy products and losing weight. But dieters might want to delay sporting milk mustaches for the moment.

Though the National Dairy Council and the researchers it pays stand by their claims, few others have endorsed the dairy-diet link. Even some scientists whose research supports that idea say its conclusions are premature.

"The bulk of the studies suggest a possible role, but there are inconsistencies in the data," said Dr. David Ludwig, an obesity expert at Children's Hospital Boston. In a 2002 study, he found that dairy aided weight loss.

"My concern is the advertising claims by the Dairy Council have well outstripped the available data," he said.

Those claims have received wide attention since 2003, when a coalition of dairy groups launched what has become the "3-A-Day" campaign, which advises that three servings a day of dairy supports weight loss.

The federal government also recommends three dairy servings a day, but doesn't support the weight-loss claim.

The dairy campaign is based on research by Michael Zemel, a nutrition professor at the University of Tennessee who began studying the link between dairy and weight during the late 1980s. Since 2000, he has published several studies that found people who eat a lower-calorie diet and consume the recommended low- or non-fat dairy servings lose nearly twice the weight as those who only cut calories.

But his research often is misunderstood, Zemel says. It is not a case of drink milk, lose weight. It works only for people who eat a low-calorie diet and who are not already consuming three servings of dairy.

That's a bit more nuanced than the "Lose More Weight" and "Burn More Fat" emblazoned across the packaging of a growing array of dairy products, though Zemel says the industry's claims accurately represent his findings.

Nuanced or not, the claims seemed like good news to Pam Syms, a 50-year-old Concord, N.H., woman who loves dairy and wants to lose a little weight.

Since seeing the industry's television ads a few weeks ago, Syms has brought yogurt to work every day. So far, no change in her weight, but she's happy for an excuse to eat dairy without guilt.

"Since I do like dairy products so much, it was just an affirmation that, 'Yes, I can keep eating those things,'" said Syms, who admits that, nevertheless, she's skeptical of the claims.

So was Zemel. He said that in 1988 when he made the first surprising connection between dairy and weight loss, "I couldn't get behind it without more data. By 2005, I feel we have that data."

So does Greg Miller of the National Dairy Council. The industry waited years before launching its campaign, he said, wanting first to amass enough studies to ensure solid scientific footing.

Among those studies are a handful of randomized clinical trials, often considered the "gold standard" of science. All were funded by the Dairy Council, and most involved Zemel, who has received nearly $2.1 million from the group since 1998.

Zemel also has patented the claim that dairy boosts weight loss, meaning every company that uses a "Slim Down with Yogurt" or similar logo has to pay him and his university. Since 2000, the patent has generated about $500,000, half of which goes to Zemel and two other patent holders.

But it's not Zemel's science that has been criticized _ it's the dairy industry's conclusions from it.



Hope this helps! ;-)

Answer 2

There are some that will tell you that milk will help you lose weight. I will tell you from personal experience that I lose weight faster if I take all dairy out of my diet and just use a calcuim supplement. People lose weight differently so no one can give you a 100% answer whether it will help or hinder your weight loss. I find it slows or even stops my progress where you may find it will help you. Milk is needed to help babies grow, it is really not needed for adults unless you are just taking it for the calcium content but if that is the case you can get your calcium in many different forms.

I do hope this helps.

Answer 3

There are a lot of calories and fat in most milk and milk products, However milk does have good food properties. If you want to lose weight drink lots and lots of water and if you need your milk fix try non=fat it should help. good luck. Ps try to cut your meal size down by 1/2 most weight problems are caused by overeating and you will find that if you cut your portion size you won't really be any more hungry and will probably feel better overall.

Only in the US do they give you enough food to last a day at one restaurant sitting,

Answer 4

Excessive amounts of milk can hinder progress if you are trying to reduce weight. Some milk should still be left in your diet because you need the protein and other nutrients. The bad think with milk, even skim milk, is that it includes carbohydrates and sodium. So to answer your question, drink milk in moderation when you are trying to lose weight.

Answer 5

Do not diet while your breast feeding! Your body, and the baby, need those calories from what you eat. Eat nutricious, well balanced meals and snacks. You can exercise, that won't cause a problem. Also, make sure to drink plenty of water, that will also help to keep your milk supply up. Breast feeding burns alot of calories and will continue to help you shed those baby pounds. Just don't be in a hurry to loose the weight, it took you 9 months to gain it, it will take just as long if not longer to lose it! Good luck :)

Answer 6

I'll bet $1,000 that there was a dairy sponsor for that episode.

Dairy is too high in carbs for quick weight loss. An 8 oz glass has 12 carbs, times 3 is 36! I think the new Biggest Loser trainer is nice, but some of her advice is a little wacky.

If you want to eat dairy and lose weight, I recommend Kimkins members pick from 3 carb 60 calorie yogurt or 1 carb 70 calorie string cheese.

Answer 7

The Dietitian at the VA Med Center where I go says to drink skim milk. Her figure is fine, so I would say she knows what she is talking about. As I was growing up it was advertised to drink 3 glasses of milk a day. It has also been know as one of Nature's perfect foods. we all start our lives with milk, so I can not see where anyone can say anything bad about it.

Answer 8

Fat-free or totally skimmed milk is a very nutritious drink and may give you a feeling of fullness, which in turn may assist in weight loss. I would, however, stay away from full-fat and even semi-skimmed milk. If you eat a sufficient quantity of fiber daily, found in whole wheat and other grains, fruit, certain vegetables (peas, beans, legumes), you will full for a longer time and thereby avoid snacking and excess calories. And exercise will suppress the craving for the wrong kinds of food.

Answer 9

... Its one of the worst things you could possibly imbibe...

Milk is basically just watered down fat.... Its a highly concentrated energy supply technically made for juveniles who need the extra energy for development... You start drinking that and you will NOT be able to lose weight...

O'course skimmed milk is less serious than whole milk.... but just because theres less fat and more water doesn't mean its not fatty.

Answer 10

First of all don't do diets they don't work, you have to change the way you eat and what you eat. YES drinking milk helps. Maybe 1% so there is less fat in it.
My friend drinks milk each day and has lost 65 pounds since may.
:)