Thinfluence Book Report

Finally! Done reading and ready to do the report.

I do feel like I am back in 5th grade (shout out to Mr. Mandarano!), when these types of assignments were much more commonplace. Even the phrase "book report" sends me down memory lane.

So, as for my overall impression on the book: I am surprised. Yes, happily surprised!

I am surprised at my reaction to this well-written book, and the lack of what I expected to be a bias against personal responsibility in a book about one's personal health, more specifically in the emotionally-charged area of weight and obesity.

As I stated before I started reading the book, I was hoping that the book wasn't going to dismiss a large chunk of the responsibility from the person who was looking to deal with their weight issue, but I was skeptical that that may have been the case.  Maybe it's this era of acceptance for diminished personal responsibility that lowered my expectations? actually   I digress...

I actually got a much different feeling from reading the book.  Yes, there was the detailed descriptions about many of the 'outside' factors that directly or indirectly contribute to weight, or at least the environment in a way that is obesogenic. Some of these were commonsense, and some were uniquely thought-provoking as to their cause and effect.

Take for instance, the disparity (evidence-based / studied) surrounding the fact that even though one's battle against obesity / weight issues is a highly individualized and personal matter( and very reinforced and dictated to by societal norms), patients actually do much better hitting their goals when engaged in group dynamics on may levels.

Whether it is a regularly meeting exercise group, a workplace weight challenge, a group benefit walk, or another group of people with a focus on weight and health, or even social media groups, studies did show that the rate of weight loss and healthy goal achievement was much in participants in those groups than in solo efforts.

And, taking that same approach to many similar levels of "influence" in our personal environment, based on the "Circles of Influence" graph depicted below, the book thoroughly described each one in light of their effect on a person's decisions and actions.

Photo by M Clock

The circle graph represents many different areas of influence, with the matters that we have the most direct control over in the center (Inner Self) of the concentric circles, and as we go further out from the center, less direct personal control (Environment and Societal Factors).

Reviewed and described as far as their effect and influence, were the areas of the Inner Factors, Relationships (family, friends, and work associates), the food and media "diet", and Policy factors of local to national laws and regulations.

Each chapter also had a final section that had an interactive action plan and a quiz to encourage the reader to put in place real change based on the information that was provided in the chapter. Pretty practical steps and input, I thought, without being patronizing.  Real examples were also provided of actual patients at Harvard, and how they realized their own results and attained heir heath / weight goals based on the chapter's content.

And, last but not least, and also studied in an evidence-based format, was the fact that people as individuals can have an impact on others and their pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.

The authors further encouraged people to realize more control over the areas that can variably be controlled, acknowledging less capability to do so as the circle graph extends away from the individual.  They also urged all those in search of  healthier weight and lifestyle to be a force for good for others, and in the foreseeable future, the US could be a much healthier place in the process.

Thinfluence? A Book Report

photo by M Clock

Okay, time to change it up a bit.

This post will be brief, and serve as an introduction to a new book I picked up at the library the other day.

"Thinfluence" caught my eye in the recently released section.  The cover defines the term as "the powerful and surprising effect family, work, and environment have on weight".

Written by two physicians that work at Harvard, and with the addition of evidence-based information and perspective, I thought it might be worth the read.  My bias against significantly relieving a patient's responsibilities with obesity, comorbidities,  and decreasing quality of life from self-care and purposeful attentiveness are well reinforced.  I am interested as to how well the cover-style marketing of this book, and it's "It's not really all your fault" initial message will stand up to my experience with patients, human nature and my day in day out interaction with the psyche of the patients we serve.

So, it is with some acknowledged bias that I start this book.  As often is the case, I at least  hope to gain some nuggets of evidence-based wisdom as to how patients can recognize and take advantage of their environment, perhaps in new and effective ways, and even be an influence, as the book details on its back cover, for others undergoing similar weight and health issues.

Sounds benign enough - right?

And, for the record, I don't think I am a totally half empty kind of guy... just a realist that may appear that way from time to time.

Trust but verify...

See what I mean?  Only now on page 6 and I've got to see how they qualify this....

More information on my 'book report' soon.