Q: Does adding milk, yoghurt and cheese mean you'll lose weight?
A: No. You can’t increase your kilojoules by adding dairy and expect to lose weight. Taking in fewer kilojoules than your body burns is the only way to lose weight. Your rate of weight loss will depend on your overall kilojoule intake, diet and exercise plan. But studies do suggest that removing dairy from the diet is not a good weight loss strategy. When substituting kilojoule for kilojoule with dairy, eating the recommended amount of calcium from dairy may actually help weight loss. A recent study published in a leading medical journal suggests a link between dairy consumption and weight loss when following a reduced kilojoule diet.

Q: Are you recommending a dairy diet plan?
A: We are not recommending one specific diet plan but are providing you with the latest scientific information on dairy calcium and weight management. There is no one size fits all diet for everyone. The best advice on which diet to follow is provided from your doctor, they know your health history best. Research suggests that it is not a good idea to cut dairy from your diet.

Q: Do I need to choose low-fat or reduced-fat dairy to lose weight?
A: Choosing lower fat dairy products always makes sense when trying to restrict kilojoules and fat while dieting. The research conducted with dairy did not limit dairy’s effects to just low-fat or reduced-fat dairy foods. Most lower fat dairy products contain about the same amount of calcium and protein as the full-fat dairy varieties, but with fewer kilojoules. When trying to lose weight, it is important to limit the amount of kilojoules and fat in your diet. In the end, kilojoules count.