April 20, 2026, 10:59 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Whole Milk Appears to Have a “Protective Effect” Against Obesity in Children

In Germany, the dietary recommendation for children is to prefer low-fat dairy products to reduce the intake of saturated fatty acids and thus lower the risk of overweight.¹ Low-fat milk and dairy products have almost the same protein, vitamin, and mineral content as whole milk. However, new findings from researchers at the University of Toronto challenge this guideline. According to the study published in “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” children who drink whole milk are less likely to be affected by overweight and obesity.² Is the assumption that low-fat milk keeps children slim a nutritional misconception?

New Evidence for a Long-Discussed Connection

In fact, the idea that whole milk helps maintain a healthy weight is not new. A comprehensive meta-analysis from 2020, which examined 28 studies with nearly 21,000 children worldwide, provided clear indications.³ Even then, it was shown that children who drank whole milk had a 39 percent lower risk of overweight or obesity compared to those who opted for low-fat versions. The researchers even observed a so-called dose effect: With each percent increase in milk fat content, the risk of overweight statistically decreased by about 25 percent.

While previous studies often relied on such comprehensive reviews, the current Canadian study provides crucial new insights into long-term development. It not only confirms the trend of the old meta-study but also shows, with more precise measurement methods and modern medical definitions, that the protective effect can be even more significant over the years than previously assumed.

New Study with 2,000 Children

For their investigation, the researchers used data from the CHILD cohort study. This prospective study includes health information and metrics for thousands of children from before birth to adolescence. Among other things, parents of over 2,000 five-year-old children reported how much milk their children drink daily and its fat content. The options included

• Skim milk
• 1 percent fat content
• 2 percent fat content
• or whole milk with 3.25 percent fat content (in Canada, the study location, whole milk does not have the usual 3.5 percent fat content found in Germany)

In fact, 90 percent of preschool children drank at least one cup of milk daily. However, only a quarter (24 percent) consumed whole milk. The fat content of other consumed dairy products was also considered. Additionally, the body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio, and body fat percentage were measured. Three years later, when the children were eight years old, the researchers repeated the physical measurements to observe the long-term effects.

Result: 5-Year-Old Whole Milk Drinkers Had Nearly 70 Percent Lower Obesity Risk at Age 8

For the analysis, the researchers tried to exclude as many biases as possible. They considered factors such as the educational status and weight of the mothers, ethnic background, socioeconomic status, and physical activity. All these factors have been linked to childhood overweight in previous studies. After all calculations, the following result emerged: Children who drank whole milk at age five had a significantly lower BMI and a 69 percent lower risk of suffering from obesity at age eight compared to children who drank skim milk.

Whole Milk Effect Even More Pronounced in Pre-Obesity Phase

An even more pronounced effect in the so-called “preclinical obesity”: The term means that a child already has a significantly high body fat percentage but biologically does not yet exhibit accompanying conditions such as high blood pressure or poor metabolic values. In this early, often “silent” phase of obesity, the protective effect of whole milk was even stronger: Children who drank whole milk at age five had a 75 percent lower risk of this precursor to clinical obesity at age eight compared to the skim milk group. This is significant because this condition is often the first, crucial step toward later chronic diseases.

More on the topic

Study Brings Clarity Whole Milk or Low-Fat Milk: Which Is Healthier for Kids?

Illness Causes, Symptoms and Consequences of Obesity

What the Study Actually Wants to Say

Like any observational study, this one does not prove that whole milk is a “slimming agent” for children. This investigation cannot and does not intend to do so. The authors themselves admit that parents of children who are already heavier may consciously choose low-fat milk. However, the results leave room for speculation that could be further explored. For example, it could be investigated whether whole milk keeps one fuller longer and curbs the craving for unhealthy snacks. Another hypothesis is that milk fats are metabolized differently. Nevertheless, milk is just one of many factors in the diet of preschool children. What the study does show is that early childhood nutrition can have long-term effects.

Researcher Advises: Low-Fat Milk Not Necessary

Despite open questions, study leader Prof. Kozeta Miliku draws an initial conclusion in a university statement: “The most important finding from this study is that whole milk was not associated with a higher body fat percentage or a higher risk of obesity in children and may even be linked to healthier growth patterns.”⁴ Therefore, she considers it sensible to rethink the milk fat guidelines for children. “The switch to low-fat milk has so far been mainly about reducing the fat content of the diet. However, the overall picture may be overlooked.”