Relationship Between Dairy Consumption and Abdominal Obesity

Abstract

Objective

This cross-sectional study aimed to demonstrate the relationship between dairy consumption and abdominal obesity in adolescents.

Method

In total, 700 adolescents participated in this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic characteristics, consumption of dairy, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist/height (W/H) ratio were evaluated. The participants were divided into two groups as to whether their dairy consumptions were below or above 3 portions/d, according to the Turkey Dietary Guideline recommendations.

Results

The mean age of participants was 15.84 ± 1.23 years. The rate of girls (65.2%) who participated in this study was significantly higher than that of the boys (34.8%; p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between the participants whose dairy consumption was below and above the specified limits in terms of BMI, WC, or W/H measurements. Energy intake (p < 0.05) and milk and cheese consumption (p < 0.001) were higher in boys than in girls. There was a significant negative correlation between dairy consumption and WC (r = −0.121), W/H ratio (r = −0.105), and BMI (r = −0.103) in girls (p < 0.05). It was found that a 1-unit increase in milk consumption can cause a 1.98-, 0.11-, and 0.552-fold decrease in WC, W/H ratio, and BMI in girls, respectively (p < 0.05; 95% confidence interval [−3.502, −0.471], [−0.020, −0.001], [−1.042, −0.062], respectively).

Conclusions

Inadequate milk consumption was related to increasing WC and WC may be one of the factors of abdominal obesity in girls. Therefore, it is of importance to raise awareness about milk and dairy consumption in adolescents.

Keywords:

• Abdominal obesity
• adolescence
• dairy products
• waist circumference
• milk

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank the academicians of Erciyes University and the Biostatistics Department for their contribution to the power analysis of our study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Authors contributions

All authors contributed in planning the study, conception, and design; in the acquisition of the data; and in analysis and interpretation of the data. All the authors participated in the drafting of the manuscript and all authors gave final approval of the version to be submitted.