In this study, a total of 564 Canadians (160 obese and 404 non-obese individuals) consumed yogurt and were then classified as “consumers”, after filling in a food frequency questionnaire. Results showed that daily yogurt consumption drives a prudent dietary pattern and is inversely associated to a Western dietary pattern. The Western diet is characterized by high intakes of red meat, sugary desserts and drinks, high-fat foods, and refined grains.
Moreover, the contribution of yogurt to daily energy intake was more pronounced in non-obese individuals (% of total energy, 2.92 % vs. 3.54 % respectively), who consumed more yogurt than obese individuals.
Given the relatively low yogurt consumption among general Canadian adults as compared with the European population, increasing yogurt intake among Canadians may be promising in helping to achieve greater adequacy for some of the shortfall nutrients and maintain metabolic well-being as part of a healthy, energy-balanced dietary pattern. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these findings, especially in obese populations.
