Milk and Dairy Foods and Growth Parameters among Adolescents

Abstract

BACKGROUND Childhood obesity is associated with a greater chance of a lifetime of obesity and disability in adulthood. Evidence suggests that dairy at recommended levels could be beneficial in maintaining normal weight and body composition. OBJECTIVE Determine whether dairy food consumption is associated with anthropometric indicators of health (weight-for-age z-scores [WAZ], height-for-age z-scores [HAZ], body mass index z-scores [BMIZ], waist-to-height ratio [WHtR], waist circumference, fat-free mass [FFM], and fat mass [FM]) in adolescents (ages 12-18). METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among 536 adolescents (231 males and 305 females) using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire containing 151 food items of which 34 were dairy-containing foods. Dairy foods were categorized into milk, cheese, sweetened dairy, and total dairy. Weight, height, waist circumference, and body composition were measured during school visits. RESULTS Mean total dairy intake for boys was 3.39 (SD=2.04) and 2.66 (SD=1.61) servings/day for girls. In multiple regression analysis, total dairy intake was significantly associated with FFM (beta=4.83 [95% CI: 1.79, 7.87], p=0.002) and FM (beta=3.89 [95% CI: 0.58, 7.21], p=0.021), and cheese intake is significantly associated with FFM (beta=4.22 [95% CI: 0.98, 7.47], p=0.011) only in boys but not in girls, even after controlling for energy and other confounders. Total dairy intake is positively associated with WHtR (beta=0.02 [95% CI: 0.00, 0.04], p=0.039) in boys only. There was no significant association between total dairy or any of the dairy subgroups (milk, cheese or sweetened dairy) and BMIZ, whereas a significant positive association persisted between total dairy intake and WAZ (beta=0.25 [95% CI: 0.00, 0.49], p=0.045) and HAZ (beta=0.28 [95% CI: 0.04, 0.52], p=0.021) even after controlling for confounders. CONCLUSIONS No specific dairy subgroup was associated with the anthropometric parameters but milk seems to be associated with WHtR. In this adolescent population, dairy consumption seems to influence the growth in both genders, and the body composition and central obesity in boys. Prospective studies may be needed to identify how dairy foods and types of dairy foods are related to the growth, body composition, and general and central obesity of adolescents.