When you reach for a glass of milk, should you choose skim? Is whole milk a guilty pleasure? For years, health experts have promoted lower-fat dairy as the healthier choice, but it’s time to look at this issue anew.

In a recent 12-year study of nearly 1,600 middle-aged Swedish men, those who ate the most full-fat dairy—think butter, whole milk, and whipping cream—were significantly less likely to develop “central obesity” than men opting for low-fat dairy. (Central obesity, fat in the mid-section, is considered more damaging to health than body fat carried elsewhere.)

Studies on children mirror these findings, and in one of the larger analyses of the existing medical literature, 11 of 16 studies linked high-fat dairy consumption with lower likelihood of obesity markers. As Greg Miller, executive vice president of the National Dairy Council told NPR, “it’s counterintuitive.” But a closer look may help explain:

• Full-fat dairy contains potentially “slimming” nutrients, including a naturally occurring fat called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).
• Some research suggests CLA provides metabolic benefits, helping the body burn fat more efficiently while preserving precious muscle tissue.
• Further, fat is very satisfying; it stays with us longer than carbohydrates or protein, and may help us eat less at later meals and snacks.