Eating more dairy doesn’t make fat cells shrink faster when people are on a diet—both groups’ fat cells got smaller at about the same rate.

Scientific Claim

In overweight and obese adults undergoing a 12-week energy-restricted diet, adipocyte size in subcutaneous adipose tissue does not significantly differ between those consuming 3–4 servings of dairy per day and those consuming ≤1 serving, indicating dairy intake does not accelerate cellular fat reduction.

Original Statement

“There was a trend (P = 0.065) toward smaller adipocyte size in the AD group with weight loss (LD −238.6 ± 375806; AD −1562.8 ± 2558.8 μM2).”

From study:Dairy Foods in a Moderate Energy Restricted Diet Do Not Enhance Central Fat, Weight, and Intra-Abdominal Adipose Tissue Losses nor Reduce Adipocyte Size or Inflammatory Markers in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Controlled Feeding Study

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

The study design supports causal inference, and the claim correctly states the absence of a significant effect. The trend (P=0.065) is accurately described as non-significant.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Dairy Foods in a Moderate Energy Restricted Diet Do Not Enhance Central Fat, Weight, and Intra-Abdominal Adipose Tissue Losses nor Reduce Adipocyte Size or Inflammatory Markers in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Controlled Feeding Study

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2011

The study found that eating more dairy didn’t make fat cells shrink any faster during a diet — whether people ate a little or a lot of dairy, their fat cells got smaller at the same rate.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Dairy Foods in a Moderate Energy Restricted Diet Do Not Enhance Central Fat, Weight, and Intra-Abdominal Adipose Tissue Losses nor Reduce Adipocyte Size or Inflammatory Markers in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Controlled Feeding Study

Score: 48

DOI: 10.1155/2011/989657

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When overweight or obese people eat fewer calories and either eat a little dairy or a lot of dairy, they lose about the same amount of weight and belly fat—dairy doesn’t help them lose more.

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