Longitudinal evaluation of milk type consumed and weight status in preschoolers

Abstract

Objective Evaluate relationships between type of milk consumed and weight status among preschool children. Design Longitudinal cohort study. Setting Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort, a representative sample of U.S. children. Participants 10,700 U.S. children examined at age 2 and 4 years. Main Outcome Measures BMI z-score and overweight/obese status as a function of milk type intake. Results The majority of children drank whole or 2% milk (87% at 2 years, 79.3% at 4 years). Across racial/ethnic and SES subgroups 1%/skim-milk drinkers had higher BMI z-scores than 2%/whole-milk drinkers. In multivariable analyses, increasing fat content in the type of milk consumed was inversely associated with BMI z-score (p<0.0001). Compared to those drinking 2%/whole milk, 2- and 4-year-old children drinking 1%/skim milk had an increased adjusted odds of being overweight (age 2 OR 1.64, p<0.0001; age 4 OR 1.63 p<0.0001) or obese (age 2 OR 1.57 p<0.01; age 4 OR 1.64, p<0.0001). In longitudinal analysis, children drinking 1%/skim milk at both 2 and 4 years were more likely to become overweight/obese between these time points (adjusted OR 1.57, p<0.05). Conclusions Consumption of 1%/skim milk is more common among overweight/obese preschoolers, potentially reflecting the choice of parents to give overweight/obese children low-fat milk to drink. Nevertheless, 1%/skim milk does not appear to restrain body weight gain between 2–4 years in this age range, emphasizing a need for weight-targeted recommendations with a greater evidence basis.

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Weight Gain in 2- to 5-Year-Old Children

“…9 Servings of milk were similarly defined as equating to 8-ounce servings and quantified in terms of frequency by the same scale as described for SSB, as reported previously. 22 Direct measurements of height and weight were obtained by trained researchers by using a standardized protocol. The children were dressed in light clothing and did not wear shoes.…”

“…21,22 The NCES ethics review board approved the study, and all participants gave informed consent. The ECLS-B was designed by NCES to examine a large range of influences on childhood early experiences.…”

“…satiation effect of milk on further food intake, 22,40 as well as underscore additional nutritional problems related to SSB consumption. 38 We also found it notable that children drinking $1 SSB serving daily were more likely than infrequent/nondrinkers to watch $2 hours of television daily, as has been suggested by previous reports.…”

“…We evaluated children participating in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Birth cohort (ECLS-B), a representative survey of the US population of children born in 2001. 21,22 Our hypothesis was that SSB consumption would be associated with overweight and obesity, as well as increased weight gain over time, potentially representing sources of calories that, if eliminated, could assist in restraining obesity.…”

Newly derived children-based food index. An index that may detect childhood overweight and obesity

“…Furthermore, two cohort studies in young children (Scharf et al, 2013) and adolescents (Berkey et al, 2005) showed that children or adolescents consuming low fat milk had a similar increase in body weight as those consuming full fat. Refined grains were omitted since they are counterbalanced with whole grains.…”