EFFECT OF A YOGURT INTERVENTION ON ADIPOSITY AND METABOLIC OUTCOMES IN WOMEN

Over 40% of women in the United States are obese. The Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research focuses on “ways to hasten the translation of research evidence from discovery to intervention.” The Strategic Plan also calls on investigators to look at influential points in the lifespan which may affect obesity. Few interventional studies on obesity in women during the perimenopausal time period have been completed. Research in broader populations suggests increased dairy, particularly full-fat products, may decrease central adiposity and improve metabolic indicators of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dairy yogurt intake in women on body composition and factors related to metabolism and adiposity. Women (n=59) were randomly assigned to either a full-fat yogurt, non-fat vii yogurt, or a control group. Demographic data, health behaviors, anthropometric measures (Blood Pressure (BP), Body Mass Index (BMI), waist/hip circumference, body fat %), and metabolic indicators (glucose, insulin, cortisol, and lipid panels) were assessed. Forty-seven (n=47) women completed the 12-week study. There were no significant differences between changes in body weight, body composition, or metabolic indicators in the yogurt or control groups. There was a favorable decrease in systolic, F (2, 46)=10.06,