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A growing body of evidence shows that when people include 3 servings of milk a day - or 24 ounces every 24 hours - in a reduced-calorie diet, they lose significantly more weight and fat than people who don't. The studies suggest that the mix of nutrients found in milk, such as calcium and protein, may help improve the body's ability to burn fat - particularly around the middle. Additional research is under way to further explore the milk-weight loss connection.

Here's a snapshot of the studies supporting milk's role in weight loss.

Overweight/obese people who consumed 3 to 4 daily servings of milk or milk - products while on a balanced, reduced calorie diet (500 calorie deficit), lost more weight and fat, particularly around the middle, than those who consumed similar amounts of calcium through supplements, or who drank little or no milk each day. People who drank milk (1200-1300 mg calcium) lost 70% more body weight and 64% more body fat than those on the low-calcium diet.

Zemel MB, et al. Dietary calcium and dairy products accelerate weight and fat loss during energy restriction in obese adults. Obesity Research. 2004; 12(4): 582-590.