CDC Urges Kids to Drink more Low-Fat Milk

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released results of its “National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2008," which reveals U.S. children are not consuming enough low-fat milk and milk products, and are falling short of dietary intake of calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients.

In 2007–2008, among children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years—77.7% of boys and 67.4% of girls—reported daily consumption of milk. Fewer than 10% of children and adolescents reported never consuming milk over the preceding 30 days. Among children and adolescents who reported milk consumption, 2% milk was reported as the usual type of milk consumed more often than other milk types. Only 20.2% of children and adolescents reported consuming low-fat milk as their usual type of milk; low-fat milk consumption was particularly low among non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and low-income children and adolescents.

The study concluded the overall low consumption of low-fat milk suggests the majority of children and adolescents do not adhere to recommendations by Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 and the American Academy of Pediatrics for all children aged 2 years and over to drink low-fat milk. Recently, First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign and "The Surgeon General's Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation 2010" have recommended promoting water and low-fat milk and reducing sugar-sweetened beverages as components of comprehensive obesity prevention strategies.

Sources:

• CDC: Low-fat Milk Consumption Among Children and Adolescents in the United States, 2007–2008