Yogurt: A Dieter's Dream?

by Diane Lofshult

Presenters at the Experimental Biology meeting in San Diego this past April had a lot to say about yogurt diets. One study may be of particular interest to those who decided to forgo that cup of Dannon^® yogurt in the hopes of achieving their weight loss goals.

Researchers from the University of Tennessee who studied yogurt diets say that, contrary to popular opinion, yogurt may actually be a fat buster, not a diet buster. While many people assume that yogurt is off limits, eating the light version may help dieters.

In observing 34 healthy obese adults over a 12-week period, researchers found that those who ate light yogurt lost 22 percent more weight, 61 percent more body fat and 81 percent more stomach fat than those who did not eat yogurt. All participants in this yogurt diet study were provided 500 calories fewer than their usual caloric intake. The yogurt eaters consumed three servings of light yogurt daily.

The average weight loss among the yogurt eaters was 13 pounds, and they were twice as effective at maintaining their lean muscle mass as the control group. But when stocking up on this dieter’s dairy delight, remember to stick to the light stuff!