New research shows that calcium supplements do not help overweight or obese people slim down. Researchers from the National Institute of Health presented their findings from the Supplemental Calcium in Overweight Out-Patients (SCOOP) study at the NAASO, The Obesity Society, annual conference in Boston on October 22. Of the 340 overweight and obese participants, those who received a calcium supplement did not show any significant differences in body weight change or body fat mass change over the two year trial, compared to those who did not take the supplement.

Yanovski J, Parikh S, Yanoff L, Calis K, et al. Supplemental Calcium in Overweight Out-Patients (SCOOP): A Randomized, Controlled Trial of the Effects of Calcium Supplementation on Body Weight and Body Composition. Paper presented at: Annual Scientific Meeting of NAASO, The Obesity Society; October 22, 2006; Boston, MA.

For information about nutrition and health, please visit http://www.pcrm.org/.

Breaking Medical News is a service of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, 5100 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016.

ians Committee for Responsible Medicine, 5100 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016.

Breaking Medical News is a service of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, 5100 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016.