Newsletter from Penn Elm Medical Group

Penn Elm Medical Group
488 E. Valley Parkway
Suite 411
Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 745-2000

NEWSLETTER: APRIL 2006

NEWS YOU CAN USE
Daily Weight Checks Could Combat Feared "Freshman 15" Weight Gain
Many first-year college students find themselves well into the dreaded "freshman 15" weight gain. But the mundane bathroom scale may help. A weekly scale-based feedback that tracks body tissue changes could help them steer clear of the dreaded "freshman 15," according to a pair of small studies.

Using an algorithm that monitors fluctuations in body tissue on the basis of daily reported weight measurements helped female college freshman avoid gaining weight during their first semester, according to researchers at Cornell University. A randomized comparison of 15 female controls and 11 female students using the algorithm showed that the controls gained an average of 6 pounds during their first semester, whereas the treatment group, on average, actually lost a little weight. This loss was not found to be statistically significant. However, the difference in weight change between the two groups was highly significant.

The findings, to be published in a 2006 issue of International Journal of Obesity, suggest that simply checking one's weight daily could help students deter unwanted weight gain, Dr. Levitsky added. "Providing these freshmen with information about their weight prevents this weight gain," the investigators concluded. However, it's not clear why. Dr. Levitsky suggests "the mere act of weighing oneself daily (may be) sufficient to prevent weight gain." It's also possible that daily contact with the research team helped students avoid the "freshman 15." Previous studies have showed that individuals who have more communication with clinicians are more successful at maintaining or losing weight, the authors said.

The researchers cautioned that hopping on the bathroom scale every day could increase the risk for obsessive behaviors, and possibly even eating disorders. They also noted that daily knowledge of one's weight changes "may actually prevent an eating disorder from occurring."

Dr. Levitsky said more research is needed to determine which aspects of this model helped students avoid weight gain. He said he intends to compare students who report their daily weight to another person with women who use only a computer program to track their weight.

Stress Can Cause Rising Cholesterol Levels
LONDON, Nov. 23, 2005 - Stress can cause cholesterol levels to climb, researchers here have discovered. A study of 199 men and women found that "a person's reaction to stress is one mechanism through which higher lipid levels may develop," said epidemiologist Andrew Steptoe, D.Sc., of University College London. He and colleague Lena Brydon, Ph.D., reported in the November issue of Health Psychology that people who showed high levels of stress responses had more unfavorable cholesterol tests three years later than did people who took the same test but managed it without stressful responses. In all 18.2% of those in the lowest third for stress had a total-to-HDL ratio above the threshold at the three-year visit, compared with 31.7% of those in the highest stress category, after adjustment for baseline ratio and other covariates.

High Caffeine Pop from 'Energy Drinks' Revealed
GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 15, 2006 - Most so-called energy drinks have caffeine levels far above the FDA limit set for carbonated colas such as Pepsi or Coke, researchers reported. And, because caffeine content is not disclosed on the label, these products may pose a health threat to unsuspecting consumers who should limit their caffeine intake, such as those with hypertension, pregnant women, or those who suffer from anxiety attacks, said Bruce A. Goldberger, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

Energy drinks—with brand names such as Red Bull® and SoBe No Fear®—are not included in the FDA regulation that limits caffeine in colas or sodas, Dr. Goldberger and colleagues said in the March issue of the Journal of Analytic Toxicology.

The investigators tested the caffeine content of 10 energy drinks, 19 colas or sodas, and seven cold-coffee and iced-tea drinks. The good news is that for all colas or sodas tested caffeine content was well below the FDA limit of 65 mg for a 12-ounce serving. In this category caffeine content ranged from 18 mg to 48 mg per 12-ounce serving.

The caffeine content of energy drinks, however, ranged from 33 mg to nearly 77 mg per serving, with the majority being above the FDA recommended cola or soda limit. One product, SoBe No Fear, came in at 141 mg for a 16-ounce serving, the study found. Several of the Starbucks® brand coffee drinks were above the soda caffeine limit too, most notably Starbucks Doubleshot, which had more than 105 mg of caffeine, the investigators said.

In certain people caffeine causes serious health effects, such as anxiety, palpitations, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and stomach complaints, Dr. Goldberger said. Because caffeinated beverages do not list the amount of caffeine they contain on their labels, pregnant women, children, infants, or people with certain psychiatric diseases or anxiety conditions may unknowingly ingest too much, he added.

Although people tend to assume caffeinated beverages are safe, "People with psychiatric diseases could have manifestations of anxiety when they consume too much caffeine, and people with hypertension could increase their heart rate," Dr. Goldberger said. Warning labels should accompany all caffeinated beverages, and nutritional labeling should be expanded to include the amount of caffeine per serving, the authors said.

In addition, "Considering the documented effects of caffeine on children and pregnant women, it would be prudent for the consumer product labeling of all caffeinated beverages to indicate the maximum amount of caffeine recommended for such groups," the authors concluded.

WHAT'S NEW AT PENN ELM
Staff News
Many of you have missed the smiling face of our long-time receptionist, Lulu, and have asked what happened to her. Lulu has been promoted to our billing department. We are pleased to see our staff want to learn and excel, and Lulu is certainly deserving of our congratulations!

Office Facelift
Our reception area will be seeing a few changes soon as it is spruced up and recarpeted. We hope you enjoy the new look.

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