• by whitley , August 10, 2005

Women's Health is the latest play from Rodale after the phenomenal success of Men's Health, the magazine that got American men's abs back in shape. So it's not surprising that the lead cover line of the July/August issue of this women's spin-off is "Amazing Abs! A Beach Ready Body in Just Three Weeks."

Women's Health is for the health conscious, outdoorsy, earth mama who cares just enough about kayaking, fighting PMS, what men find sexy, tan leather wedges, and "Six Feet Under" star Rachel Griffith's second pregnancy to keep this mag afloat. There's not that much to set this magazine apart from its competitors like Self, Shape, and Fitness - except maybe more black and white photography.

The front of the book offers your typical random study news on diets, pregnancy, the health of laughter, and how yogurt curbs bad breath. One of the best nuggets is a chart that compares the calories in super-sized drinks to solid fast food (note: A grande Starbucks Tazo Chai Frappuccino has as many calories as a McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese.)

The middle of the book is broken up into page-long features on nutrition, balance, couples, weight loss, cooking, fitness, calm, health, beauty, and style. Each section has a side bar in which readers ask questions on a theme (Do meal-replacement shakes work? If a cookbook is printed, the recipes have to be good, right? What's the best exercise to tone your thighs?) and an expert answers. All sections are well designed and easy to breeze through, though the fonts and the fashion are pretty bland.

The feature well also lacks originality and a sense of fun. There is, however, a story by journalist Joyce Wadler written as a letter to her younger self about the bad choices she made in hindsight, which was very moving. And just when you think the magazine might be getting a bit earnest in terms of health consciousness, there's an informative feature about the friendlier side of things that are bad for you (coffee cleans out your arteries and alcohol intake may protect against cognitive decline by improving blood flow in the brain).

Even though Women's Health lacks a unique pull to set itself apart from the hoards of other health mags, it will probably do well riding on the marketing coattails of Men's Health.