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.