Lifestyle Medicine: What Is It?

“Personalized lifestyle medicine is high-science, low-tech treatment that is more effective for the top 5 chronic diseases than our current approaches”

Dean Ornish, M.D.

At its core, Lifestyle Medicine is about really caring for people in a holistic, positive, and productive relationship. It is the practice of treating and preventing disease with lifestyle change as the first line of defense and is based on the recognition that lifestyle is central to the development of so many disease conditions. Lifestyle Medicine brings together sound scientific evidence from diverse health-related fields to help not only in treating disease, but in promoting good health.

As an example of a “lifestyle treatment”, consider that for most people a diet low in salt and fat, with lots of fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy products, is as effective as taking a medication to lower blood pressure. For even better results, increase physical activity, add stress management, and drink less alcohol.

Specialists in Lifestyle Medicine are knowledgeable and skilled in the evidence-based use of nutrition, exercise, stress management and other lifestyle modalities to treat medical problems and promote best health. Just like any other specialty, we healthcare professionals who utilize lifestyle interventions as the primary therapeutic tool in the treatment and management of disease have our own national organization, The American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Success using Lifestyle Medicine is based on developing specific healthy, achievable, lifestyle action plans in partnership with patients – with careful follow up. It’s been shown in numerous scientific studies that when doctors collaborate with patients in this way, patients have greater success. Treating the whole person is key in Lifestyle Medicine.