Obese From The Heart: A Fat Psychiatrist Discloses [Paperback]

Sara L. Stein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 25, 2009

Finally a book comes along that answers why we are obese. Overweight is a lifestyle issue with risk to health; obesity is a brain disease with associated illness. Our current prescription of behavior modification fails to address the underlying causes of obesity, and sets the obese person up for failure. This is a why-not book, a what-about-me book, a my-turn-now book.

Drawing on her own battles with weight loss and years of experience as a physician and a psychiatrist, Sara L. Stein, M.D., tackles obesity with a fresh, honest, and holistic approach. Losing weight is the result of treating the whole person, mending Mind, Body, and Spirit.

Obese From the Heart addresses the everyday challenges of obesity - the fruitless struggle to lose weight, the self-conscious embarrassment of first impressions, and the hopeless, hollow chorus of 'I'll start tomorrow...'. Starting from the inside out, Dr. Stein teaches healthy, balanced, and energetic living that anyone can practice starting now.

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR OBESE FROM THE HEART

Obese from the Heart made me cry, and made me laugh. It touches upon so many things we as humans live with, or without. Sara Stein has an ability to speak to everyone, young and old, rich and poor, any race, religion, or gender.”
~~ Pamela Heller, Photographer

“This book is almost lyrical, almost like a wonderful song. It has a rhythm to it that is entirely appropriate and unchanging throughout. Severely wonderful!“
~~ Louise Hoffman, Bariatric RN

“I wasn’t going to read this until I had a bit more time, but I couldn’t help glancing at it....and I didn’t stop until it was finished. Obese from the Heart is marvelous. Sara Stein writes with unequaled candor, wry humor and vivid story-telling. I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart.”
~~ Philippa Kennealy MD MPH CPCC PCC

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A book that everyone struggling with excess weight should read - more importantly, a book that every obesity researcher, health professional and decision maker should read" When the Heart Causes Obesity Dr. Arya Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., FRCPC,  Scientific Director of the Canadian Obesity Network

"That's where the value of this book lies: it is an exemplar, it bears witness to what we might do in everyday practice. When did we last ask a patient how they felt about having cancer or a stroke or dying? What is the price that we each, as doctor or as patient, pay for this?" Vincent J Felitti, MD, FACP, Permanente Journal, Fall 2010

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Quantum Psych INK (August 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982524811
• ISBN-13: 978-0982524817
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sara L. Stein, M.D., is a Bariatric psychiatrist, Functional Medicine doctor, author, speaker, and teacher. In 2009, she wrote the award-winning Obese From The Heart: A Fat Psychiatrist Discloses chronicling her now 100 lb. weight loss, and the method she uses in treating obesity. Her witnessing reflects the soul within both patient and doctor. These are not the stories of individuals, but the collective wisdom of working with thousands of people of all ages and all walks-of-life who struggle with their lives. Some struggle with addictions, some with circumstances, some with biology, but all with a need for greater healing than our current overtaxed medical system can offer.

For her groundbreaking work on obesity, Dr. Stein received the 2010 Kaiser Permanente Ohio Humanitarian Award for Community Service. In 2011, Dr. Stein received the Crain's Cleveland Physician Hero Award. Dr. Stein is considered one of the top 25 female doctors on Twitter (from kevinmd.com)

Dr. Stein is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and trained in General Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. She trained in General Psychiatry at MetroHealth Hospitals of Cleveland and Stanford University School of Medicine and completed a combined National Institutes of Mental Health-Stanford University fellowship in Human Development.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Searingly honest, painfully funny and deeply thoughtful, September 29, 2009

By 

Philippa "The Entrepreneurial MD business coach" (Los Angeles, US, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Obese From The Heart: A Fat Psychiatrist Discloses (Paperback)

Dr Stein has poured her professional AND personal heart out into her part memoir - part guide about coming to terms with living as a fat (she unstintingly owns that word) person in a highly judgmental world.

From her shrewd and perceptive psychiatrist's viewpoint, she describes the stigma obesity carries in the minds of both her medical colleagues and the general public.

Laced with philosophy ("We are all connected. My health reflects your energy. My love is an expression of your loyalty. My blessing is the song of your heart. And so it goes. When you are tired, I am in pain. When you are alone, I weep. When I am isolated from the flow of the universe I cannot fill up, no matter how much I eat."), humor, insight, education about the workings of the brain, and practical advice, this book is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt the pain of being fat or who wants an inside glimpse into a fat person's world.

And what's more, the medical descriptions are within anyone's grasp:

("Your brain is a joy machine. It has all the ability to bliss-you-out for hours naturally.

What I had to learn was: what ELSE besides food would provide that explosion of joy?

And what else would make it last and heal my body in the process?

Your body releases dopamine in response to pleasurable activities, including food, sex, sleep, exercise, laughing, singing, painting, and gardening.

Your body releases acetylcholine and gabapentin for relaxation in response to quieting your mind through meditation, prayer, yoga, and petting your animal.")

Bravo for your courage and your clarity, Dr. Stein! You will touch and even potentially heal many lives with this book.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What? She's not skinny? How could she write this??, June 6, 2010

By 

Candy Beauchamp "CandyTX" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Obese From The Heart: A Fat Psychiatrist Discloses (Kindle Edition)

So, check it out... it's a book about fat people WRITTEN BY... (wait for it) a fat person! How could she dare? What does she know about losing weight? I mean, she's fat, so she obviously doesn't know what she's talking about, right?

A-ha! But this isn't a weight loss book. Oh, she gives a few tips and hints, yes, of course. But she tells you repeatedly that she doesn't have all the answers. She can tell you how she feels, how nearly every obese person feels. The stigma, the overcompensation. She also let's her sense of humor bleed through a few times. She also lets her heart break right on the page a few times.

Will you lose weight with her new revolutionary plan? Um. No. If you are obese (and I am - shocking, I know) you know how to lose weight. You aren't just plain lazy, you aren't un-knowledgeable about what you need to do. Us fat people already know what we need to do. We've read the diet plans, we've eaten nothing by cabbage and sunflower seeds for a week. We've read the hoo-rah-rah self help books. What we really haven't had before is someone that's there with us. We haven't had someone that took the time to write a book about what it really means to be overweight. A few tried, but none really succeeded until now.

This book resonated with me. I struggle, daily, with food. I always have. I always will. Even if I wake up tomorrow 100 pounds lighter, I will still struggle with it. The past year, I've made changes, I work out weekly, I walk, I exercise, I get up off my butt and move around. I try to be aware of what I'm eating (and yes, there are days - weeks even - when I honestly don't care, but I'm aware that I don't care!)

This book is not only for the obese folks. If you work with overweight people, I think should be required reading to get a look inside their minds - to really understand what's going on in their heads. It's also a good overall book about self-esteem. Give it a read, you won't be disappointed.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So many ah-hah moments, January 28, 2010

By 

Deborah S. Mendez "Calming Collar Lady" (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Obese From The Heart: A Fat Psychiatrist Discloses (Paperback)

A must read for anyone that struggles with being obese -- or knows someone who does. There were so many aha moments as I read this book. Dr. Stein really helped me to understand what my body was trying to tell me -- or at least how to better listen to my body. Once you have read the book, I suggest you follow @sarasteinmd on twitter. It is like having your own personal coach, shrink and mentor -- one who struggles with the same issues you do and offers up ideas and suggestions to help.