July 8, 2005 – Calling false advertisements extolling the slimming properties of milk and its products, a group of American doctors has just filed an injunction to end this campaign.
Broadcast for a few months in the United States, these TV and print ads are funded by the American milk lobby. They notably feature popular psychologist Phillip McGraw – better known as Dr Phil -, sporting a small milk-white mustache, and claim that consuming the equivalent of three glasses of milk (skimmed or partially skimmed) daily can contribute to weight loss.
Established in 1985 to promote preventive health, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) alleges that these advertisements may mislead Americans. “The scientific literature shows that the addition of dairy products in the diet is not only not associated with weight loss, but that it can even result in a gain”, claims the organization which advocates in particular the adoption of a diet free of animal products.
In its paper, the PCRM argues that the ad “is based on the studies of a single scientist (Michael B. Zemel, University of Tennessee), whose work is largely funded by the US industry. milk “. In addition to this appeal, the PCRM is circulating a national petition calling for the withdrawal of advertisements.
A debate more ideological than scientific?
Obesity specialist in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Laval University, in Quebec, Dr Angelo Tremblay believes that “marketing science” – as the targeted advertisement does – can lead to problematic situations.
“However, there is no need to cry wolf: the effectiveness of regular consumption of skimmed or partially skimmed milk on fat loss or reducing the risk of overweight is credibly and rigorously documented,” says Dr Tremblay. But, according to him, this action of milk must be situated in a global context. “It is wrong to believe that on its own, milk can make you lose weight,” he warns.
Nuance on the “magnifying effect” of milk
In addition, Angelo Tremblay added nuance to the interpretation of the results of a recent American study according to which consuming more than three glasses of milk per day is associated with weight gain in pre-adolescents.2.
“As this study is based on total weight, it is not clear from the results whether the gain is made up of lean mass (especially muscle mass) or fat. It may well be that milk favors the former rather than the latter. In fact, milk often promotes partitioning in this direction in the body, ”observes the research professor.
For their part, the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) are posting an update of this research on their website, in which they identify certain methodological shortcomings.3.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
According to theAssociated Press.
1. To access the press release issued by the PCRM: www.pcrm.org/cgi-bin/lists/mail.cgi?flavor=archive&id=20050628100850&list=news [site consulté le 7 juillet 2005].
2. See our short story Milk would – again – make you fat.
3. To access the update carried out by the PLCs: www2.questionnutrition.org/fran/sante/6_8_1.asp [site consulté le 7 juillet 2005].
