The consistency of content areas was assessed for six college health textbooks published between 1980 and 1987. Texts were analyzed to determine coverage of ten selected content areas: (1) motor vehicle accidents; (2) teenage pregnancy; (3) suicide and homicide; (4) alcohol and drug misuse; (5) smoking; (6) nutrition; (7) exercise and fitness; (8) stress; (9) mental illness; and (10) sexually transmitted diseases. Areas were identified from the Surgeon General's report (1979) outlining the national health goals for the decade. Also evaluated were quantifiable/textbook characteristics including: textbook page space comprising text; photographs, tables/charts/illustrations (T/C/I); and readability. A mean of 40.34% of the textbook space was devoted to the ten priority content areas. Three goal areas (motor vehicle accidents, mental illness, and suicide/homicide) were not addressed in every textbook. Alcohol and drug misuse accounted for the greatest amount of content space. Text comprised 47% of textbook space and readability from grades 12.04 to 14.55. Results suggest increased emphasis on national health goals in health program planning and research priorities and in college health textbooks. Recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, publishers, and authors are offered. (Includes eight references) (Author/PT)