Originally published July 24 2005
Consumers gain weight on "dairy diet"; sue dairy producers
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Commercials for all manner of dairy products are claiming that dairy products can help dieters lose weight, but some dieters have actually gained weight on the program and are suing the dairy industry for fraudulent claims , though the industry staunchly defends its claims, the Washington Post reports.
An activist physicians group entered the battle of the bulge yesterday, filing lawsuits in Alexandria that accuse the dairy industry of fraudulently claiming that people can shed pounds by consuming more dairy products.
The two lawsuits by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, filed in Alexandria Circuit Court, contend the industry has promoted the weight-loss notion through a "massive, deceptive advertising campaign."
In fact, the committee says, overwhelming scientific evidence shows that dairy products cause weight gain or have no effect on weight.
Catherine Holmes of Arlington says she gained weight on the Catherine Holmes of Arlington says she gained weight on the "dairy diet."
The sole plaintiff in the suits, Catherine Holmes of Arlington, said in an interview yesterday that she went on the so-called "dairy diet" late last year because she "just wanted to drop a dress size or two."
"I was thinking that I wasn't seeing the fat melting off like all those skinny little girls in the ads," said Holmes, who is 5 feet 5 and weighs 163 pounds.
One of the lawsuits seeks an order from a judge halting the dairy industry campaign, and the other lawsuit seeks damages for Holmes.
The dairy industry strongly defended the advertising campaign and reiterated its contention that consuming dairy products helps with weight loss when coupled with calorie restriction.
The largest study to examine the question found this month that children who drink more than three servings of milk each day are prone to becoming overweight.
The more milk children drank, the more weight they gained, according to the study, which followed more than 12,000 children nationwide.
Zemel and industry groups tried to focus attention on the physicians committee, a Washington-based nonprofit group that advocates a plant-based diet.
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