Three Yogurt Weight Management Facts
There are a number of theories about how yogurt may effect body fat and give a helping hand to weight management:
1. Yogurt is a good source of calcium and protein, containing more than an equivalent volume of milk. Several studies have shown that dietary calcium can bind fat and decrease its absorption from the intestinal tract (26). Calcium and dietary proteins such as whey and casein proteins, peptides and amino acids such as leucine may facilitate loss of weight and fat mass. For example, adequate calcium intake decreases levels of calcitriol, a calcium-regulating hormone, leading to decreases in intracellular calcium and less fat being stored in adipocytes which may result in weight loss (27, 28).
2. Yogurt as a fermented food that can contain live and active cultures may be able to change colonic bacteria that might influence weight gain (8, 29).
3. Yogurt, especially protein-rich yogurt, has a potential role in promoting satiety. Studies suggest that protein enhances satiety and satiation and can lead to a reduction in appetite (Digest 2).
It is also possible that people who increase or decrease their yogurt consumption may have other linked weight-influencing behaviours that have not as yet been measured or identified in reported studies (7).
Figure 4: Yogurt-related factors potentially infiluencing energy/fat-balance.
