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. 2020 Dec;15(12):e12690.
doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12690. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Increased dairy product consumption as part of a diet and exercise weight management program improves body composition in adolescent females with overweight and obesity-A randomized controlled trial

Melissa Calleja  1 , Natalie Caetano Feitoza  1 , Bareket Falk  1   2 , Panagiota Klentrou  1   2 , Wendy E Ward  1   2 , Philip J Sullivan  1 , Andrea R Josse  2   3
Affiliations

Increased dairy product consumption as part of a diet and exercise weight management program improves body composition in adolescent females with overweight and obesity-A randomized controlled trial

Melissa Calleja et al. Pediatr Obes. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Exercise can improve body composition in adolescents and adults with overweight/obesity. Consumption of dairy foods, as part of a healthy lifestyle program, can also promote favourable body composition changes in adults with overweight/obesity. However, the few studies examining these combined effects on body composition in adolescents are inconclusive.

Objective: To determine whether increased dairy product consumption, as part of a lifestyle modification program featuring exercise training and dietary guidance promotes favourable body composition changes in adolescent females with overweight/obesity.

Methods: Fifty-four participants (age: 14.8 ± 2.2y; BMI percentile: 95th ± 6) assigned to three groups completed the study. There were two experimental groups: recommended dairy (RDa; n = 24) and low dairy (LDa; n = 22), and a no-intervention control group (Con; n = 8). RDa and LDa participated in a 12-week, eucaloric, lifestyle modification intervention consisting of mixed-mode exercise (3x/week), and nutritional counselling. RDa was provided 4 servings/day of dairy foods, while LDa and Con maintained habitually low intakes (0-2 servings/day). Body weight/composition, waist/hip circumference, cardiovascular fitness and food intake were assessed at weeks 0 and 12.

Results: Weight did not significantly change in any group. RDa significantly decreased fat mass (FM) and increased lean mass (LM) more than LDa and Con (FM: -1.3 ± 2.1 kg, -1.1 ± 2.0 kg, 0.8 ± 1.8 kg; LM: 1.5 ± 1.9 kg, 0.7 ± 1.6 kg, 0.5 ± 1.4 kg, respectively). LDa also significantly decreased FM and increased LM more than Con (P < .005; all interactions).

Conclusion: The inclusion of dairy foods in the diet of adolescent females with overweight/obesity, as part of a diet and exercise intervention, favourably improves body composition in the absence of weight loss.

Keywords: adolescent health; body composition; dairy products; exercise; healthy eating; weight management.

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References

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