Low-Fat Milk Might Not Have Intended Effect in Preschoolers

To combat obesity in preschoolers, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends low-fat milk (1% or skim milk) rather than 2% or whole milk for children ages ≥2 years. Is this practice effective? Researchers prospectively studied the association between milk-fat consumption and weight in a nationally representative birth cohort of 7450 2-year-olds and 8300 4-year-olds.

Most children drank 2% or whole milk at ages 2 and 4 years (86% and 81%, respectively). Body mass index (BMI) z scores were significantly higher among low-fat milk drinkers than among 2% or whole-milk drinkers across all race, ethnic, and socioeconomic subgroups. In multivariable analysis, both 2-year-olds and 4-year olds who drank low-fat milk were more likely to be overweig…