Flavored milk may be as healthy for kids as plain

Despite its added sugar, flavored milk may be better for kids than no milk at all, and may even be as healthy as the plain variety, a study of U.S. children suggests. Using national survey data on more than 7,500 2- to 18-year-olds, researchers found that those who drank flavored milk had a similar average body mass index (BMI) than plain milk drinkers. The findings suggest that flavored milk can be part of a sound diet for children, according to the research team, led by Mary M. Murphy, a nutrition science researcher with Arlington, Virginia-based ENVIRON International Corp. Appearing in the April issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the study, funded by the National Dairy Council, is based on results from a government health and nutrition survey. Some flavored milks contain artificial sweeteners, but most do have extra sugar and calories.

Bonnie - this is a perfect example of why I am a member of the American College of Nutrition instead of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). I would be utterly embarrassed if this the best my colleagues could come up with and actually publish it. Why?

1. ENVIRON Corporation is a for profit health sciences consulting firm which was hired by the study's funding source, the National Dairy Council to survey the data.
   
   
2. Who is a huge funding source to the American Dietetic Association? The National Dairy Council.
   
   
3. To use BMI as the only indicator for changes in health status is unconscionable. Many of the flavored milks have high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors and colors. Besides, BMI's influence as an obesity indicator has been greatly reduced in recent years.

This seems like another attempt by the Dairy Council to force feed milk down the public's throat with marketing dressed as research. And the ADA is in cahoots.