February 2005

IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

• Do sugar-sweetened drinks contribute to weight gain?
• Please support our programs and initiatives!
• StrongWomen Workshop training in Pennsylvania
• Reader Questions and Answers
• Using the Slim program to count protein servings
• Can I volunteer to be part of a Tufts study?
• From the Mailbox — Success Stories
• Recipe — Tasty Beet and Orange Salad

DO SUGAR-SWEETENED DRINKS CONTRIBUTE TO WEIGHT GAIN AND TYPE 2 DIABETES?

For years we have suspected that sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda and fruit punches may contribute to weight gain and type 2 diabetes because they contain large amounts of easily absorbed sugars (and calories). Despite our belief, the evidence for this connection has been lacking until now.

Recent research from the Nurses' Health Study, a large study following approximately 90,000 young and middle-aged women from 1991 to 1999, now provides us with some clues. The investigators measured the women several times during the course of the study, following their weight gain and whether any of the women became type 2 diabetics. They also analyzed their consumption of sugary beverages. The results of the study demonstrated that women who drank one or less sugar-sweetened soft drinks per week did not gain weight during the time period. But women who increased their intake of these beverages or drank one or more per week gained weight. The same was true for fruit punch. In addition, women who consumed one or more soft drinks or fruit punch per day had a significantly increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes during the time period.

These results support our effort to get women to cut down on their consumption of sugary beverages of all types. These beverages are providing empty calories that most women cannot afford to consume. This study also shows us that with good nutrition weight gain during our middle-aged years is not inevitable. The recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans that were just released in January support the reduction of simple sugars from our diet.

(Reference: MB Shulze and colleagues. Sugar-sweetened beverages, weight gain, and incidence of type 2 diabetes in young and middle-aged women. Journal of the American Medical Association. Vol 292(8), pages 927-934, 2004.

SUPPORT A RUNNER: SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS AT TUFTS!

This April I am running the Boston Marathon. I am doing the run as part of a larger team effort at Tufts University to raise support for our programs. Please consider supporting my running of the 109th running of the Boston Marathon this April. All support of my number goes directly towards research and outreach on nutrition and physical activity. In particular, the support generated by the challenge will target outreach programs to combat obesity and inactivity among elementary school children as well as our own StrongWomen programs that we are currently implementing throughout the nation and abroad. Every donation counts! Thank you for considering to support my running of the 109th Boston Marathon.

To support my number, please visit the website or call 1-800-326-4001. Please note that you must select my name as the person you'd like to sponsor on the donation page. Donations are tax-deductible.

STRONGWOMEN WORKSHOP TRAINING

Nearly two years ago, we began a structured dissemination of community-based StrongWomen Programs throughout the country and abroad. We have been bringing allied health professional from around the country (and Canada and Mexico) to our Center here in Boston for a full-day training workshop, which details the information needed to begin a StrongWomen Program. Additionally, we have traveled to several cities around the country to train larger groups of individuals through hospitals and cooperative extension service. Thus far, we have trained more than 500 individuals from thirty states!

We are excited to announce that another workshop is scheduled to occur on March 17, 2004 in State College, Pennsylvania. If you are an allied health professional interested in attending the workshop and have a firm commitment to start a program in your community, please visit our website.

Or, you can contact Marilyn Corbin at 814-863-6109 or via email.

If you are unable to attend the Pennsylvania training and you would like to be kept up to date on other training dates, please contact Rebecca Seguin via email.

Q: Can you tell me how many grams of protein are in 1 protein portion in your plan? Most labels list protein in grams and I'd like to be able to easily convert when I'm not weighing portions.

A: For portions, it is really done by calories. One portion of protein ranges from 40-85 calories. Typically, one portion will contain 5-10 grams of protein - although that may be a little higher or lower depending on the food. For instance, one portion of hummus (two tablespoons) has 53 calories and 1.5 grams of protein. A portion of chicken (1 ounce) has 56 calories and 8.5 g of protein.

Q: I'd love to be a subject in one of your research studies at Tufts - how can I volunteer?

A: Volunteers are a very important part of scientific research, so I'm delighted that you're interested. Of course, each study is different and has specific requirements. You can take a look at the different studies we're conducting, or you can call the Volunteer Services Office at (800) 738-7555. They can tell you which Tufts research programs are currently recruiting participants, and they can explain the nature of the studies and their requirements.

"I just wanted thank you for giving me a program that finally works for me. You've changed my life and I'll always be grateful."

-- Lynett

"One of my participants reported it had been several years since she could get in and out of a bathtub. Then, one evening she got into the tub sat down and realized this was the first time she had done this in years! Also, most of the participants in the class are now able to grab their ankles on the stretching exercise! I have been amazed at how fast everyone is progressing!"

-- Martha (StrongWomen Program Leader)