Guatemala, March 7, 2025. Obesity has become a global epidemic, and Guatemala is no exception. This condition represents a serious threat to public health, as it is a risk factor for numerous chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancer.

Obesity is defined as a disease characterized by excess body fat. The new definition of obesity focuses on health and moves away from BMI as the sole criterion.

Estefani Soto, a nutritionist at Dos Pinos, emphasizes that dairy products play a key role in healthy habits that can contribute to weight management and overall health improvement. Scientific studies have shown that adequate consumption of dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, is beneficial in combating overweight and obesity. These foods are rich in calcium, vitamins, and high-quality protein—essential nutrients that promote bone health, metabolism, and general well-being.

“ More than 50% of the calcium in the diet comes from dairy products, and this nutrient forms insoluble particles with fat, which reduces its absorption and, therefore, decreases its accumulation in the body ,” explains Soto.

Dairy products have been studied in relation to weight control, and several recent arguments support their potential benefit in this area.

First, it has been observed that dairy consumption, especially yogurt, is associated with less weight gain and a lower risk of obesity, particularly in women during the menopausal transition. A longitudinal study showed that women with higher yogurt intake had a 31% lower risk of obesity compared to those with lower intake.

Furthermore, a meta-analysis suggests a linear association between dairy consumption and a lower risk of overweight or obesity. In particular, yogurt and milk consumption is associated with a reduced risk of overweight and obesity.

On the other hand, fermented dairy products, which contain probiotics, have shown a potential anti-obesity effect. It is suggested that the probiotics and bioactive peptides released during milk fermentation may contribute to this effect.

It has also been suggested that consuming dairy products as part of a weight management program that includes diet and exercise can improve body composition, increasing lean mass and reducing fat mass in overweight or obese adolescents.