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Read more about Concepts of Fitness and Wellness

Concepts of Fitness and Wellness

(34 reviews)

Scott Flynn

Lisa Jellum

Jonathan Howard

Althea Moser

David Mathis

Christin Collins

Sharryse Henderson

Connie Watjen

Copyright Year: 2018

Publisher: University System of Georgia

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of Use

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
CC BY-NC-SA

Reviews

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Reviewed by Michael Dalessio, Instructor, Berea College on 12/13/23

This text covers most of the relevant topics for an introductory wellness/health course in a convenient and sufficient manner. Inclusion of the following topics would be beneficial: environmental wellness, healthy relationships & sexuality,... read more

Reviewed by Tricia Pierce, Assistant Professor, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on 11/13/22

It is not 300 level college material. Definitely appropriate for 100 level or possibly 200 level. Its a great start to Fitness and Wellness. read more

Reviewed by Scott Arbogast, Adjunct Professor, James Madison University on 11/6/22

I think for a 100 level class, this text is comprehensive. However, I think the book starts out by going over the dimensions of wellness, but doesn't do a great job connecting back to that later in the book. read more

Reviewed by Tina Pulley, Adjunct Professor/Student Wellness, Johnson County Community College on 5/19/22

The text is relevant and holistic. Each chapter covers a detailed fitness and wellness topic with short, concise paragraphs, easy to read glossary, overarching themes, brief questions, and video links. The breakdown of cardiovascular, muscular,... read more

Reviewed by Stephen Sowulewski, Professor of Health Science, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College on 4/21/22

I would rank this book as a 3. It is made up of 13 sections (aptly named because they may be as few as 3 pages) as compared to actual chapters. As a wellness book, I would have thought it might consist of sections on mental health and... read more

Reviewed by Xiaolu Liu, Assistant Professor, Eastern New Mexico University on 11/5/21

The textbook boradly covers all health-related fitness components (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, body composition), fitness principles, and other very important lifestyle behaviors (e.g., healthy eating,... read more

Reviewed by Barbara Lamagna, Adjunct Faculty, Bristol Community College on 6/30/21

Multiple authors offer a thorough introduction to the topics in a readable and direct format. There is thorough information in each chapter that is broken out in topic links, graphs, video links and concludes with citations, a glossary of terms... read more

Reviewed by Jennifer Slawta, Professor, Southern Oregon University on 5/23/21

This is a great book on health, wellness, and fitness for 11th/12th grade and freshman college students. It provides a basic and simple overview of health, wellness, and fitness which would be applicable in any entry level health class. I... read more

Reviewed by Micah Rahman-Enyart, Graduate Assistant, Indiana University - Bloomington on 4/14/21

This is a pretty comprehensive text for introductory fitness & wellness concepts. The only minor criticism is a lack of neurological content, specifically regarding muscle contractions that require larger force. The only mechanism discussed is... read more

Reviewed by Aamir Sheikh, Associate Professor/College of Dentistry, Howard University on 2/16/21

The book is very thorough and addresses concepts of both wellness and disease. read more

Reviewed by Chaparro Gioella, Assistant Professor, California State University, Dominguez Hills on 7/15/20

This book covers areas of fitness, health, and wellness that is easy to understand. The content covered is perfect for students being introduced to the field. Perhaps serve as book for an ‘Introduction to Kinesiology’ course. Content on the... read more

Reviewed by Cheryl Najarian, Adjunct Anatomy & Physiology Instructor, Middlesex Community College on 6/24/20

This textbook has a clearly labeled table of contents; page numbers would have been helpful for easier accessibility to individual chapters. There wasn't a glossary at the end of the textbook, however, at the end of each chapter key terminology... read more

Reviewed by Tong-Ching Tom Wu, Associate Professor, Bridgewater State University on 6/20/20

The textbook covers a broad area of fitness and wellness, and it includes physiological, behavioral, psychological, and biomechanical domains. It would be helpful if the depth of each topic can be further elaborated and improved. Nonetheless, the... read more

Reviewed by Gail Marrella, Adjunct Professor, Bridgewater State University on 6/1/20

The text is thorough and well researched, and covers most topics relevant to college students. However, topics such as relationships, communication, sleep, and mental health are critical areas of concern for this population and would provide... read more

Reviewed by Janet Wigglesworth, Professor, James Madison University on 5/28/20

The text covered what I would term “the usual” types of information that would be taught in a 100-level introductory class that focuses on fitness with a connection to selected wellness concepts. The text begins with a discussion of the 9... read more

Reviewed by Angela Mickle, Professor, Radford University on 1/31/20

The book covered a great deal of information. The text was complete, I think however to be more comprehensive there needed to be more figures, pictures etc. read more

Reviewed by Tyler Garner, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Arlington on 1/22/20

This book is very thorough for a basic introduction to health, fitness, and wellness. This book would provide a reader with a limited knowledge of health behavior a solid foundation to begin making healthier choices in their own life. read more

Reviewed by Lynn Dillon, Adjunct Professor, Reynolds Community College Richmond, VA on 12/6/19

Textbook does cover areas of the curriculum and is easy to understand. Topics are basic. read more

Reviewed by Meghan Halbrook, Assistant Professor, Randolph College on 12/2/19

I have been sitting here trying to decide if it's comprehensive enough and I think that the answer ultimately comes down to who the learners are in the course. I have been using a more comprehensive text but for my 100-level students, I actually... read more

Reviewed by Lisa Farley, Associate Professor, Butler University on 11/14/19

There is a lot of detail in several the chapters of this book, but not so much as to overwhelm the reader. There are some good links with information to support the learning, including video, articles, etc. As a foundational or introductory text,... read more

Reviewed by Kason O'Neil, Associate Professor, East Tennessee State University on 11/1/19

The breadth of the topics covered is appropriate and is on par with many other Introduction to Wellness textbooks I have used in the past. My issue is that the depth and detail covered in each topic are not sufficient. Many of the topics within... read more

Reviewed by Martha Swirzinski, Associate Professor, Thomas Nelson Community College on 9/16/19

The content is broadly covered. Would like to have seen the authors go a little deeper with the information. Could be a great book for an intro course. read more

Reviewed by Carol Weideman, Master Faculty Specialist, Western Michigan University on 6/30/19

There isn't a reference list for the first chapter, healthy behaviors & wellness. There isn't an index or glossary. The name of the textbook should be Introduction to Fitness; the only reference to wellness is covered on pages 5-7. There isn't... read more

Reviewed by Daniel Montoya, Adjunct Instructor / Department of Health and Human Performance, Central Oregon Community College on 5/11/19

Chpt 1 comments on spirituality as faith based. While Alabama may have a higher % of faith-based connection to spirituality the text could make more global connections such as: Art / Music / Nature / Community groups that may or may not include... read more

Reviewed by Brandi Eveland-Sayers, Assistant Professor, East Tennessee State University on 4/24/19

The majority of this book focuses on fitness, one dimension of wellness. It is great for intro to fitness class. read more

Reviewed by Craig Jackson, Director of Athletics- Health and Human Performance, Umpqua Community College on 4/23/19

Covers all areas of my current class. Provides solid links/extra material that helps understanding. Lays out the objectives at the beginning of each section to help provide points of emphasis for the training. read more

Reviewed by Andy Dotterweich, Associate Professor, East Tennessee State University on 4/23/19

Similar to typical wellness textbook. It uses the transtheoretical model as a basis for behavior change. The text discusses nine areas of wellness but spends most of the text focusing on physical wellness with little in-depth discussion of the... read more

Reviewed by Rebecca Buchanan, Associate Professor, Health & Human Performance, Emory & Henry College on 3/24/19

Although the initial dimensions of wellness are listed and explained in the first chapter, the majority of the text is focused mostly on the physical dimension and does not include a comprehensive discussion of all nine dimensions. read more

Reviewed by Daniel de Moraes, Faculty, Exercise Sciencee, Minnesota State on 12/7/18

The content is covered accurately and broadly; but, i found commonplace in most chapters to mix in high level knowledge concepts with introductory ones. If this is intended to be used as an introduction book I believe it would be beneficial to... read more

Reviewed by Mary Michener, Program Director: BA Human Services, Associate Degrees, Bethel University on 11/16/18

The text is comprehensive in most of the chapters. The nutrition and weight management chapters are lacking in important information related to these areas of study. It seems that a text addressing overall wellness would include a chapters on... read more

Reviewed by Anita Walters, Instructor, Fort Hays State University on 11/15/18

The text is appropriate for an introductory fitness course. It is most definitely focused on the physical dimension. Although the introductory chapter of the book acknowledges the existence of nine dimensions of wellness, the paragraph in this... read more

Reviewed by Lynn Maska, Assistant Professor Health & Human Performance, Fort Hays State University on 11/2/18

The text covers all of the important concepts of fitness and wellness. All of the major components of fitness are well addressed for the college population. The chapter on stress is excellent for the college... read more

Reviewed by Katherine Brau, Professor, MnSCU on 10/24/18

The selection of topics/chapter are appropriate and common for a introductory wellness course. Concepts within the chapters are appropriate and preferred such as the dimensions of wellness and the transtheoretical model of change. I also... read more

Reviewed by Mike Puthoff, Professor, Physical Therapy Department, St. Ambrose University on 10/8/18

The book covers all the important areas of fitness and wellness. The chapter on stress is an important addition to this book and applies so much to college students who may be using this textbook. Some of the chapters have links to other sites... read more

Table of Contents

  • 1. Healthy Behaviors
  • 2. Fitness Principles
  • 3. Cardiorespiratory Fitness
  • 4. Muscular Fitness
  • 5. Flexibility
  • 6. Body Composition
  • 7. Nutrition
  • 8. Weight Management
  • 9. Stress
  • 10. Cardiovascular Disease
  • 11. Cancer
  • 12. Substance Use and Abuse
  • 13. Sexually Transmitted Infections

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About the Book

This open textbook for Concepts of Fitness and Wellness at Georgia Highlands College was created through a Round Seven ALG Textbook Transformation Grant.

About the Contributors

Authors

Scott Flynn, Associate Professor of Physical Education and Principal Investigator, Division of Natural Science and Physical Education, Georgia Highlands College.

Lisa Jellum, Associate Professor of Physical Education, Division of Natural Science and Physical Education, Georgia Highlands College.

Jonathan Howard, Instructor of Physical Education, Division of Natural Science and Physical Education, Georgia Highlands College.

Althea Moser, Instructor of Physical Education, Division of Natural Science and Physical Education, Georgia Highlands College.

David Mathis, Lab Coordinator and Assistant Athletics Director, Division of Natural Science and Physical Education, Georgia Highlands College.

Christin Collins, Assistant Librarian of Public Services, Paulding Campus Library, Georgia Highlands College.

Sharryse Henderson, Professor of Biology and Science Coordinator, Division of Natural Science and Physical Education, Georgia Highlands College.

Connie Watjen, Georgia Highlands College.

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