Two new studies recently came out with surprising findings that may finally stop people from dodging whole milk.

The studies reported that consuming full-fat dairy foods can slash risks for obesity and diabetes. These results go against conventional recommendations, such as the U.S. dietary guidelines, of swapping full-fat dairy with its low or non-fat counterparts.

But not so fast, according to the findings of a study on more than 18,000 middle-aged women who took part in the Women’s Health Study. The women were all of normal weight and were free of heart disease, cancer and diabetes at the beginning of the research. The study found that the subjects who consumed more high-fat dairy maintained an 8 percent lower risk for obesity over time, with the same association not seen with low-fat dairy intake.

"We saw less weight gain … and also a lower risk of becoming overweight and obese in those who consumed more high-fat dairy," says study author Susan Rautiainen of Harvard Medical School.

Since high-fat dairy products provide more calories, how can they seem to reduce risk for weight issues? The researchers pinpointed that dairy boasts of components like proteins, calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus, which may assist in weight control and management.

“Calcium has been suggested to play a key role in energy metabolism by forming insoluble soaps or binding bile acids,” explains the team in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Three years ago, a separate study from Swedish researchers arrived at a similar conclusion, indicating that middle-aged men who consumed high-fat milk, cream and butter were significantly less likely to become obese over a 12-year period compared to those who barely or never consumed high-fat dairy.

Dr. Darius Mozaffarian, author of the other study that found a link between full-fat dairy and reduced diabetes risk, said that national guidelines should be reexamined and allow consumers to select whole or reduced-fat dairy like cheese, milk and yogurt.

Renowned cardiologist Dr. Mehmet Oz writes that while it seems counterintuitive to go high-fat since it’s loading up on calories, it may be that the “sensory experience” of high-fat dairy intake leads to more satisfaction and actually makes people eat fewer calories in general.

“Some low-fat products are actually loaded with sugar – which means they end up having more calories than the full-fat versions,” he says in his Huffington Post article, adding that these studies should not drastically alter one’s diet, but that moderation should instead remain the key.

Rautiainen herself clarifies that this isn’t the whole story on fat and dairy yet, urging future studies to investigate the matter more closely.

Photo: Liz West | Flickr