Children’s milk drinking habits analysed
New research shows a direct relationship between the consumption of cow’s milk, and socio demographic factors.
The New Zealand Medical Journal has today published a paper entitled Type of cows’ milk consumption and relationship to health predictors in New Zealand preschool children.
The study, a first of its kind in New Zealand, shows cow’s milk is consumed regularly by 88 per cent of preschool
children. Of these, 26 per cent consumed low or reduced-fat milk, while 74 per cent drank full-fat milk. The data was
drawn from a cross-sectional study of 1,329 preschool children between two to five years old, between August and October
2012.
The researchers say while it is important to note the research is now five years old, to the best of their knowledge it
remains the latest nationwide investigation of milk consumption patterns in New Zealand pre-schoolers.
Associate Professor Pamela von Hurst from Massey’s School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, says the New Zealand
Ministry of Health recommends children drink two to three serves of preferably reduced-fat milk after the age of two
years. “We found that most children drank cows’ milk, but that the majority drank full-fat milk. Consumption of low or
reduced-fat milk was influenced by several sociodemographic factors, including age, maternal education, ethnicity and
residential region, with Māori and Pasifika children, and those living in the South Island, more likely to drink full
fat milk.
“Identification of the factors which influence milk type consumption in children provides guidance for targeted
interventions to improve milk consumption behaviours in children. Further research is warranted to investigate
parents/caregivers’ knowledge about dietary guidelines and to determine the causal relationship between obesity and milk
type consumption. The findings of this study may have important implications for developing and shaping interventions
and in helping shape public health policy and practice to promote cow’s milk consumption in preschool children,” Dr von
Hurst says.
Author information:
Hajar Mazahery, School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland; Carlos A Camargo Jr, Department of
Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA; Carolyn Cairncross, Faculty of Health and Environmental
Sciences, AUT, Auckland; Lisa A Houghton, Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin; Cameron C Grant,
Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, Auckland City Hospital, University of Auckland, The Centre for
Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland,
Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland; Jane Coad, Institute of Food Science and
Technology, , Massey University, Palmerston North; Cathryn A Conlon, School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey
University, Auckland; Pamela R von Hurst, School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland.