Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 1 To the Student wellness classes based on our experiences as professors of psychology (Catherine Sanderson) and biology (Mark Zelman), and as the accom- plished authors of college-level textbooks. Our combined backgrounds give us a deep well of knowledge of the most current scientifi theory and fic research to draw from. Perhaps the most valuable experience we had in preparing to write this book is our roles as parents to a combined total of seven children, ages 8 through 22. After all, in writing this book, we both refl frequently on flected our experiences as parents and our goal of ensuring that our own children maintain excellent physical, emotional, intellectual, and social health. This book includes all of the standard topics found in high school health and wellness books—including nutrition, physical fitness, substance use fi and abuse (including alcohol and tobacco), stress management, disease prevention, and healthy relationships. Additionally we also included essential material not often found in such books. This material includes chapters discussing the impact of sleep on psychological and physical well-being and strategies for maintaining a positive body image (even in the face of media pressure to achieve unrealistic body shapes and sizes). You’ll also read how health can change across a person’s life span, including during adolescence. We wanted our book to give high school students the most current health information, presented in an engaging writing style so students would enjoy reading the book. We also filled the book with practical skills fi teenagers can use in their own lives. Finally, as the authors of successful college-level textbooks, we felt confi in our research and writing abilities, but felt that the pedagogy fident was better left to master teachers. We would like to thank Health Education Specialist Melanie Lynch, of State College Area High School North, State College, Pennsylvania, and Instructional Specialist Melissa Munsell, of North East Independent School District, San Antonio, Texas, for developing the questions and activities that are a vital part of this course. We hope you are delighted with the final product, and wish all readers of this book a fi lifetime of good health.