USA – A new study designed to replicate data that suggested a diet high in dairy products would help people lose weight has found evidence to the contrary.

It found that a high dairy diet was no more effective than a high quality behavioural modification programme, including regular exercise.

The study, led by Jean Harvey-Berino, professor and chair of nutrition and food sciences, also contradicts the results of a similar trial which has been promoting dairy products based upon the positive results.

“Our high dairy group lost the same weight as the other high dairy group,” said Harvey-Berino, “but individuals in our low dairy group did a lot better than those in the first study.” The results were presented at the North American Association for the Study of Obesity’s annual scientific meeting.