'Thinfluence' book review

THINFLUENCE:Thin-flu-ence (noun) the powerful and surprising effect friends, family, work and environment have on weight, by Walter Willett, Malissa Wood and Dan Childs. Rodale Books, 242 pp., $25.99.

You might have heard that research shows if your friends are obese, you're more likely to be, too. Dr. Walter Willett, chair of Harvard School of Public Health's department of nutrition, and Dr. Malissa Wood, cardiologist and lead investigator of the HAPPY Heart trial at Massachusetts General Hospital, write that the obesity crisis is a societal issue: "Put another way, if the power goes out in a hurricane, you don't place all of the blame on your own fuse box." Surrounding yourself with people practicing healthy behaviors can help you. Then your positive influence can ripple out to your social circle -- and even beyond.

THE SCOOP "What would you be able to achieve in terms of . . . your health if your family and close friends reinforced what you were doing?" the authors ask.

THE BOTTOM LINE They help you devise a "Thinfluence" plan to Analyze, Act and Influence -- do you need all those birthday cakes at work? You, too, can become a "Thinfluencer."