Your Toxic Waist

In this informal self-help book, first-time author Power provides open-minded individuals with the means to take charge of their well-being and get a longer lease on life.

Power repeatedly returns to the idea of a “bubble belly,” stressing that our tendency to make light of this flaw with a pat and chuckle is a grave error. He points to this mini bulge as a frequently ignored harbinger of the damage caused to the liver and arteries due to poor diet and lack of exercise. He highlights the connection among a sedentary lifestyle, not eating well and the early onset of conditions such as heart disease, cancer and strokes. To simplify his points, Power relies on childlike illustrations that resemble those found in an old-school health textbook. Statistics, which are rarely sourced, offer a larger context for poor habits, pointing out the decade-by-decade increases in TV watching, meat and cheese consumption, and corn production, among other topics. With an index and headings like “Fresh Insights: Energetics,” the book’s structure does little to indicate what topic a chapter will address. It closes with several simple, throwback recipes (pineapple-stuffed squash or “Kaluha (sic) Chicken,” anyone?). The focus on practical nutrition, as well as embracing lifestyle changes as an alternative to overmedicating, echoes the notable documentary Forks Over Knives. Frequently, the lighthearted tone belies Power’s serious message that, for health issues, personal accountability and discipline are the best allies. The book may be simplistic and repetitive for readers already deeply concerned with their own personal well-being, but the plainspoken advice from an experienced doctor will appeal to readers newly interested in getting off the couch and stepping away from the potato chips.

An accessible manual about the nuts and bolts of wellness.