For beginning students, Dishman (exercise science and psychology, U. of Georgia at Athens) et al. examine the relationship between physical activity and disease. They look at the study of the distribution and determinants of physical activity in a population, as well as how physical activity can be altered to reduce the frequency of disease, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity, or injury or early death. They summarize the knowledge and methods of physical activity epidemiology, implications for public health, and key questions. They apply principles used by epidemiologists to cause-and-effect relationships about physical activity and health risk and address the measurement and surveillance of physical activity and fitness in a population and problems with motivating youth and adults to be more active. They include chapters on the etiology of major diseases and the evidence that physical activity offers protection, including diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancers, as well as effects on mental health. This edition has been updated to reflect new research, adds new content, and has more on all-cause and coronary heart disease mortality and new information on physical activity among various racial-ethnic populations and effects on cognitive function, dementia, and HIV/AIDS. It adds a section on patients with inflammatory diseases, more on special populations and health disparities, and a new section on the built environment and social interventions to promote physical activity participation. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)