Milk & Children's Height: Dietitian Pamela Fergusson Responds

The idea that drinking dairy milk is essential for good nutrition has taken a hit in recent years. Canadian milk consumption declined by 18% between 1995 and 2014. Several factors may explain this shift: the changing makeup of the Canadian population, concerns about the health impact of dairy products, concerns for animal welfare, increased allergies and intolerances. Growing preference for plant-based milks is also a factor. Researchers at St. Michael’s hospital recently raised the alarm that drinking non-cow’s milk is associated with lower height in children. According to this study, published last week in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for each daily cup of cow’s milk they drank, children were 0.2 centimetres taller than average. This begs the questions: why are those children taller, and is being taller actually healthier? The study’s lead author, Dr. Jonathon Maguire, a pediatrician at St. Michael’s Hospital – whose ties to the dairy industry are detailed below – states that “Height is an important indicator of children’s overall health and development. Cow’s milk has been a reliable source of dietary protein and fat for North American children, two essential nutrients to ensure proper growth in early childhood. But many… Read More
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