MONDAY, Dec. 22, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Higher intake of dietary calcium, like that found in dairy products, is linked to lower body fat in young children, says a study in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
The study included 52 children, aged 2 to 8, and their mothers. It found a lower percentage of body fat on the children was associated with dietary calcium and polyunsaturated fat intake. A higher percentage of body fat was associated with being female and inactivity.
Milk and other dairy products were the main sources of dietary calcium for the children in the study. Milk alone accounted for 50 percent of their calcium intake.
The study suggests dietary calcium may play a role in preventing childhood obesity.
"Even a slight decrease in body fat during childhood may reduce the risk of obesity in later childhood, adolescence and adulthood," lead author Jean Skinner, a professor emeritus at the University of Tennessee, says in a prepared statement.
"Parents, educators and health professionals can help children develop healthy lifestyle habits early by teaching them to choose and enjoy nutrient-rich foods like dairy more often," Skinner says.
She recommends children be encouraged to: regularly eat calcium-rich foods, increase their physical activity, and restrict their intake of soft drinks and other low-nutrient beverages.
More information
Here's where you can learn more about childhood obesity.
