James Rippe, MD, is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. He is currently the founder and director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute and Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Rippe is regarded as one of the leading authorities on preventive cardiology, health and fitness, and healthy weight loss in the United States. He has written for over 400 publications on issues in medicine, health and fitness, and weight management. He has also written 49 books, including 31 medical texts and 18 books on health and fitness for the general public.