Recent studies show the intake of dairy may speed up weight loss and help burn fat.

Judith Lukaszuk, assistant professor in nutrition and director of the Didactic Program, verified this claim.

“A high calcium intake [1000-1200 mg per day] from dairy sources like milk or yogurt seems to negatively correlate with body fat and body weight,” she said.

This fact may be attributed to various reasons. The key explanation behind weight loss with dairy foods has to do with the amount of calcium intake. Calcium is an important mineral that controls what the body does with calories.

Another positive outcome of a dairy diet has to do with what dairy products are replacing.

Martha O’Gorman, registered dietician, family, consumer and nutrition sciences instructor and nutrition counselor at NIU Health Services, recognizes this benefit.

“When [humans] consume adequate calcium by drinking two to three glasses of milk with the meal [a ‘glass’ equals eight fluid ounces] they aren’t drinking high calorie, sugary sodas and juice. They are getting protein and calcium, and when milk is their source, they are also getting vitamin D,” she said.

While the research and studies are still taking place, the overall weight loss due to large dairy intake shows high numbers.

According to a study on obesityresearch.org performed in April 2004, one following a diet rich in dairy can lose more weight (approximately 11 percent in body weight) than one following high-calcium or low-calcium/low-dairy diets.

This information may be a positive revelation for overweight people, as well as the dairy industry.

Some nutritionists, however, are skeptical of this recent discovery.

Jamie Vilet, a nutritionist at the Kishwaukee YMCA, is unsure of the studies’ validity.

“I feel weight loss comes down to calories and calorie deficit. It’s a balance of exercise and healthy eating,” she said.

While weight loss due to dairy intake is still being questioned by some, Lukaszuk hopes to find answers on this topic during the summer of 2006.

“I have received a summer research grant to further determine the affect of calcium-enriched dairy and non-dairy on body fat, abdominal circumference and body mass index in overweight college-age women,” she said.