Milk-TOT: Whole vs. 1% Milk and Toddler Weight and Health
Official title: Milk Type in Toddlers (Milk-TOT) Study: Impact of Whole versus Low-fat Milk on Child Adiposity, Health and Development
Funded at Univ of Calif/div/agriculture/nat/resour · NIH-11369879 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A year-long study will compare whole milk to 1% milk in 2-year-olds to see how milk fat type affects body fat, growth, and health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Calif/div/agriculture/nat/resour NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $674,856 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK131217-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369879 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Parents of healthy toddlers around age 2 who have recently switched to cow’s milk.
✕Less likely to help
Children with special health needs or milk allergies/intolerances may not benefit from a milk-fat comparison.
What this research studies
This study will enroll about 625 toddlers who have just transitioned to cow’s milk and randomly assign them to drink either whole milk or 1% milk for 12 months. Researchers will track adiposity using waist-to-height ratio and other health and development measures to understand how milk fat type impacts early obesity risk and overall growth. The trial is designed to inform parents and clinicians about which milk type supports healthier body composition during a critical period of development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide recommendations on milk choices to support healthier weight and development in early childhood.
How similar studies have gone: Previous observational data show associations but randomized trials like Milk-TOT are needed to establish causality.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Calif/div/agriculture/nat/resour
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ritchie, Lorrene D — Univ of Calif/div/agriculture/nat/resour
- Study coordinator: Ritchie, Lorrene D
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.