The modern standard American diet consists of foods high in fat, sugar and calorie content and therefore it is no surprise that obesity is a growing problem. The added problem is that people do not seem to have more than typically 10 minutes to exercise each day. This results in an increasing number of people becoming obese and looking for different ways to loose weight. Weight Loss centers and weight loss products are becoming very popular.

Recent studies suggest that a diet that includes food rich in calcium appears to promote weight loss. The dairy industry has taken notice of these studies and has started to focus their recent advertising campaign on calcium and weight loss.

The American Dairy Association or the ADA relies on these studies for their advertising campaigns. In the case of calcium and weight loss, there appears to be a link between how much calcium is in the body and the weight of an individual.

Based on research, the ADA’s advertising campaign shows that eating three to four servings of low fat dairy products every day reduces the amount of fat that is stored in the body. In simple terms calcium encourages the body to convert more fat into energy by increasing the body’s core temperature and this effect causes the body to burn calories at a much faster rate.

The studies also highlight the fact that people with low calcium stored in their body tend to have high fat stored.

The modern popular diets that promise quick weight loss normally do not include many dairy products. Since calcium is needed by the body to prevent bone loss and reduce the risk of osteoporosis, those who are on these quick weight loss diets tend to be prone to osteoporosis and bone loss because of the deficiencies of essential vitamins and minerals.

Cheese, milk, ice cream, yoghurt, dried figs, baked beans, broccoli and dark green leafy vegetables, are all foods high in calcium.

A member of the Vegetarian Resource Group, Dr. Reed Mangels commented on how high amounts of animal protein affect our bodies. He quoted from a study that was published in 2003 in the Journal of Nutrition: “Some studies show that diets that are high in protein, especially animal protein, do cause increased losses of calcium in the urine…”

The current Recommended Daily Allowance or RDA for calcium is between 800 and 1000 mg per day. Most Americans consume calcium less than the RDA, typically between 500 and 700 mg.

If anybodies diet does not consist of foods high in calcium enabling the RDA to be achieved for calcium, there may be a need to take calcium supplements, thereby lowering your risk of bone loss and developing osteoporosis, while at the same time take advantage of the weight loss benefits of calcium.

There is however some conflicting evidence that suggests in some circumstances, increasing your calcium intake through diet does not result in increased weight loss. A number of studies that were published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2005 have indicated that increasing calcium intake does not increase weight loss, particularly in young healthy females.

It is therefore a good idea to talk to your doctor before you start on a weight loss program especially if you are under 18 years of age, are pregnant or have a medical condition. Your doctor can then quickly identify your original or current calcium intake together with your intake of other essential vitamins and minerals.

Following on from this initial assessment the next step would be for a registered dietician to create a diet specifically tailored for you. This diet would meet your body’s caloric and nutritional needs.