New book focuses on Appalachian health

A new book, which compiles health reviews and studies from the 13-state Appalachian region, reveals greater health care disparities between counties within the region than between Appalachia and the rest of the U.S.

Kevin Kavanagh reviewed Appalachian Health and Well-Being for The Courier-Journal, and reports that the rural Central Appalachia region is "extensively discussed" in the book as having some of the nation's highest rates of poverty, tobacco and drug use, obesity and diabetes.

"The vast majority of the chapters are a well-written, comprehensive discussion of the problems affecting Appalachia," Kavanagh writes. "An important concept is that unhealthy lifestyles are not just the patient's fault, but also a social problem; making substantial headway requires improvement in poverty, education and employment."

The book, edited by Robert Ludke and Phillip Obermiller of the University of Cincinnati, is available from the University Press of Kentucky.