Lifestyle Medicine

What is Lifestyle Medicine?

Lifestyle Medicine is the use of a whole food, plant-predominant dietary lifestyle, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connection as a primary therapeutic modality for treatment and reversal of non-communicable disease. The science overwhelmingly supports the efficacy of Lifestyle Medicine.

The Global Burden of Non-communicable Diseases (NCD)

NCDs are the leading cause of death globally; responsible for 38 million (68%) of the world’s 56 million deaths in 2012. More than 40% of them (16 million) were premature deaths under age 70 years. Almost three quarters of all NCD deaths (28 million), and the majority of premature deaths (82%), occur in low- and middle-income countries. (Source: WHO GB NCD 2014)

“Today, the global community has the chance to change the course of the NCD epidemic. The world now has a truly global agenda for prevention and control of NCDs, with shared responsibilities for all countries based on concrete targets. This is an historic opportunity to tackle the NCD epidemic that no country can afford to miss.”

Dr. Margaret Chan, Former Director-General World Health Organization

Global Movement

Lifestyle Medicine is emerging as the fastest-growing branch of medicine around the world. In the last decade, lifestyle medicine organizations and colleges have been founded worldwide, and new organizations are emerging on all continents.