The Impact of Dairy Intake on Adiposity and Satiety in Adults

Abstract

Purpose of Review The 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommends that American adults consume 2 to 3 daily servings of dairy foods as part of healthy dietary patterns. The DGA’s recommended dietary patterns are intended to meet nutrient needs and reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including overweight and obesity. However, the evidence reviews that the 2020 DGA is based on, the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Scientific Advisory Report, did not assess the body of evidence linking individual foods to adiposity. The purpose of this review is to assess the evidence published in the last 10 years on dairy consumption, adiposity, and satiety. Recent Findings The twenty studies included in this review, primarily randomized controlled trials, include interventions with the dairy foods recommended by the DGA—milk, cheese, and yogurt—of varying fat levels (whole fat, reduced fat (2%), low fat (1%), and fat free). Most of these studies were conducted in individuals who were overweight or had obesity at baseline. Therefore, these studies do not measure the impact of eating dairy foods on prevention of adiposity or obesity. Instead, they focus on whether dairy foods support weight loss/weight maintenance or how they affect satiety and prospective food consumption. Summary Overall, recent evidence indicates that consuming dairy foods does not increase risk of overweight or obesity in adults but also does not protect against adiposity. Solid and semi-solid dairy foods like cheese and yogurt may be more satiating than milk and other beverages, though more research is needed to confirm these findings.