Skimmed milk 'makes kids fat' They drew their conclusions after asking the parents of almost 11,000 two-year-olds what type of milk they gave them: skimmed, one per cent fat, two per cent fat, or full-fat. They then followed up the children two years later. Writing in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, the authors noted: "One per cent / skimmed milk does not appear to restrain body weight gain between two and four years of age." The Department of Health advocates children "gradually move to semi-skimmed milk as a main drink" from the age of two "as long as they are eating a varied and balanced diet and growing well." However, it warns against giving skimmed or one per cent milk as the main drink until they are at least five, because these "don't contain enough vitamin A and skimmed milk doesn't contain enough calories." Skimming fat off milk does not affect its calcium content. According to the Department of Health, children aged one to three need around 350mg of calcium a day, which is provided by just over half a pint of milk.