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 “Studies that look specifically at weight loss are very limited,”
said coauthor Irene Lenoir-Wijnkoop of Utrecht University in The
Netherlands.
“Scientifically speaking, based on this it cannot be concluded that
yogurt causes weight loss, even if the tendency in this analysis is
promising,” she told Reuters Health by email.
The researchers reviewed 22 studies. Thirteen of the studies
observed people at one point in time and compared their yogurt
intakes, finding that those who ate more yogurt had lower body
weight or healthier body composition.
More rigorous studies, in which subjects were randomly assigned to
eat yogurt or not and their weights were monitored, had mixed
results. One found significant weight loss in the yogurt group but
did not rule out the possibility that differences in calcium intake
were responsible, as reported in the International Journal of
Obesity.
“Yogurt has several micronutrients which may have potential
beneficial effects, for instance calcium is involved in the
metabolism of fat,” said Dr. Nita Forouhi of the University of
Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine in the U.K. “As yogurt is a
fermented product, there are likely effects on obesity also through
its effect on the gut microbiome, which is a field that is gathering
more research attention now.”
“There is a lack of well conducted randomized controlled trials that
test different types and amounts of yogurt versus no or low yogurt
consumption and that are of sufficient duration and quality,” said
Forouhi, who was not part of the new study.
In principle, a well-conducted randomized controlled trial would
determine whether eating yogurt leads to weight loss, Lenoir-Wijnkoop
said.
“However, to maximize the likelihood of detecting a causal effect,
it would be critical to have an adequate number of participants, a
follow up over a sufficiently long timespan (ideally 12 months) and
a proper design to address effects of yogurt alone,” she said.
If yogurt does lead to weight loss, it could be because people who
eat it regularly use it to replace less healthful foods, she said.
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“Furthermore yogurt is a nutrient dense food and as part of balanced
and healthy diet it can have a positive effect on feelings of
fullness,” she said. “Research is currently on-going in many places
in order to unravel the underlying mechanisms of action.”
Among children, frequent yogurt consumers tend to also consume more
fruit, whole grains, and milk, Lenoir-Wijnkoop said.
“Yogurt consumers tend to eat less fast food, French fries and fried
foods, processed and red meats, pizza, snacks, regular soft drinks
or alcohol,” she said.
Adults who eat yogurt also tend to be more active and are less
likely to smoke, she said.
“Future studies should aim to address specifically the effects on
weight management of different types of yogurt such as full-fat
yogurt, Greek-type yogurt, low-fat, low-fat with or without added
sugar, with or without added fruit and so on, to better guide choice
by consumers,” Forouhi said.
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1WFVvdP International Journal of Obesity,
online November 3, 2015.
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