Dr. Kozeta Miliku Leads Study Finding Whole Cow’s Milk Linked to Lower Childhood Obesity Risk
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Drinking whole cow’s milk in early childhood may be associated with a lower risk of obesity in later childhood, according to new findings from the CHILD Cohort Study led by Dr. Kozeta Miliku, assistant professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, together with researchers Tara Zeitoun and Zheng Hao Chen. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The research suggests that children who consume whole-fat milk in early childhood may have healthier growth patterns and lower odds of obesity in middle childhood compared to those consuming reduced-fat milk. These findings add to a growing body of evidence challenging long-standing dietary guidelines that have encouraged reduced-fat dairy intake in young children.
“The most important learning from this study is that whole milk was not associated with higher adiposity or obesity risk in children, and may even be linked to healthier growth patterns,” said Dr. Miliku, who is also a researcher at the Joannah & Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition.
The study used data from the CHILD Cohort Study, a large, longitudinal Canadian birth cohort following children from before birth through childhood across multiple sites. Researchers examined milk consumption patterns reported by caregivers and assessed growth and obesity outcomes over time using standardized measures.
Findings showed that children who consumed whole milk at age five had lower body mass index and reduced odds of obesity at age eight compared with children who consumed skim milk. The research adds to emerging evidence suggesting that milk fat content may play a role in satiety, energy balance, and overall diet quality in early childhood.
Dr. Miliku noted that these results should be interpreted within the broader context of children’s diets. “When we think about healthy growth, it’s important to consider overall dietary patterns,” she said, emphasizing that whole milk may be one component of a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein-rich foods.
The study contributes to ongoing international discussions about pediatric nutrition guidelines and the role of dairy fat in early childhood development. The research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Joannah & Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition.
