THE EXERCISE BALANCE - BOOK REVIEW (may be reprinted)

The Exercise Balance by Pauline Powers, MD and Ron Thompson, PhD
(Carlsbad, CA; Gürze Books, 186 pgs, ©2008, ISBN 978-0936077-02-48, $17.95)

What do these two people have in common? Jennifer is a 17-year-old with anorexia nervosa who exercises two to three hours every day, regardless of the weather or her health. Bill, a middle-aged man, is 50 pounds overweight with diabetes and has not run a lap since he was in 9th grade. Both of them suffer from medical complications due to imbalanced exercise.

The ill-effects of exercising too much can be just as severe as being sedentary. Compulsive exercisers may experience stress fractures, heart rhythm abnormalities, and a decrease in sex hormone levels. Women who overexercise often face osteoporosis, amenorrhea, and disordered eating—a hazardous combination called The Female Athlete Triad. People who are not physically active are susceptible to overweight, diabetes, heart disease, and a wide range of other medical conditions.

These extremes are two sides of the same coin and are the focus of a groundbreaking new book, The Exercise Balance. The authors, Pauline Powers and Ron Thompson, are experts on obesity and eating disorders, and Thompson has consulted with the NCAA and International Olympic committee Medical Commission on overtraining syndrome.

In The Exercise Balance, specific guidelines are provided for achieving healthy moderation. The consequences of overdoing it are explained, and athletes are given checklists to determine if their activity levels are harmful. Practical strategies for change are suggested, including such methods as goal setting, following the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine, recognizing feelings, and using relaxation techniques. Underexercisers are given instructions for starting a program and motivational skills for sticking to it. The concerns of individuals with chronic illness is also discussed in depth, as well as particular needs based on age.

Based on sound medical principles and state-of-the-art training approaches, The Exercise Balance also offers concrete recommendations for coaches, trainers, physical therapists, and other health care professionals.

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