Study says low fat does not lead to lost weight

Gilly Hendrie and Rebecca Golley of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia have found that children who switch regular dairy products for low-fat varieties consume less saturated fat but don’t seem to lose weight. They found neither weight nor body mass index (BMI) had changed noticeably six months after children switched to low- or reduced-fat dairy products. Children who slashed fat intake appeared to compensate by eating more calories from other sources, according to the new findings, which appear in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
For the study, 145 children aged four to 13 were divided into two groups. The researchers asked one group to replace their dairy products with low-fat varieties for six months, while the other got no dietary advice. Both groups consumed similar amounts of dairy products, and the total calorie intake remained more or less stable.
Nurses interviewed the kids and parents on their dairy eating habits at the beginning of the study, and at three and six months. They also drew blood and measured BMI and waist circumference. The low-fat group did consume less overall fat. At the end of the study, they got 13.3% of total calories from saturated fat, compared to 16.6%in the comparison group. There was also a small drop in cholesterol levels in the low-fat group, but their waistline, BMI and weight were no different.