American Medical Association complete guide to prevention and wellness : what you need to know about preventing illness, staying healthy, and living longer.

Nutrition, exercise, health issues, reproductive health and aging are all covered in this informative, no-nonsense guide. Whether anything sets this book apart from many others like it (i.e., the Mayo Clinic guides) is debatable. The information is decidedly up-to-date and well organized. As the title says, the goal of the book is disease prevention and overall wellness rather than a discourse on methods for treating problems once they've occurred. Anyone new to the idea of "wellness" will find this guide a wonderful first course on the subject. Specifically, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and pulmonary issues are covered, as is bone health, digestive health and diabetes. The mind-body connection is fully acknowledged, as is the link between spirituality and well-being. Helpful graphs, charts and illustrations throughout further complement the book's comprehensiveness. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Verdict: Although there is some overlap of material, the book is very well organized and easy for consumers to follow, providing beneficial illustrations, graphs, charts, and tips. Many will find this a valuable wellness and prevention resource. Recommended for public libraries and consumer health wellness collections. Background While many books are aimed at patients who are already diagnosed with a particular condition, this latest book from the American Medical Association (AMA) addresses wellness issues in an attempt to prevent patients from developing chronic illnesses and diseases. The first section focuses on general wellness issues like nutrition, exercise, and weight, while the next sections address the prevention of specific chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The book concludes with sections on how to keep children and teens healthy and women's and men's health.--Dana Ladd, Community Health Education Ctr., Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Libs. & Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Health Syst., Richmond (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.