The Lifestyle Medicine Team: Health Care That Delivers Value

Abstract

Most chronic illnesses in developed nations are largely preventable. Lifestyle Medicine adds tremendous value to traditional methods for the delivery of healthcare by focusing on preventing, reversing and treating chronic illness. By helping individuals focus on nutrition, physical activity, stress management, quality sleep, mental health and purposeful living, the risk and incidence of chronic illness decreases dramatically. This article describes the team approach to preventive health care including the value of Wellness Coaching and how the Group Visit model of health care improves access to care and quality outcomes.

Culinary Medicine as Innovative Nutrition Education for Medical Students: A Scoping Review

“…Medical schools should seek to align curricula to define best practices in hands-on nutrition education through culinary medicine approaches, emphasizing the role that lifestyle plays in population health and equipping future leaders to deliver value in an era of accountable care organizations and capitated care. 46…”

Meeting the Needs of Rural Veterans: A Qualitative Evaluation of Whole Health Coaches’ Expanded Services and Support during COVID-19

“…Qualifications for WH coaches typically include a bachelor’s or higher degree in a behavioral or social science, and specialized experience in helping clients reach wellness goals utilizing motivational interviewing and shared decision-making health coaching techniques [ 37 ]. In addition, a growing number of health coaches obtain a National Board Certification of a Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) [ 38 ].…”

Feasibility of an intensive interprofessional lifestyle medicine program for patients with musculoskeletal conditions in the setting of lifestyle‐related chronic disease

“…The medical field of lifestyle medicine has emerged because of the growing evidence supporting the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Lianov and Johnson described lifestyle medicine as an “evidence‐based practice of assisting individuals and families to adopt and sustain behaviors that can improve health and quality of life.” 15 With an emphasis on illness prevention and quality of life optimization, this approach adds value to traditional care delivery models and increases patient satisfaction 16 . The foundation of lifestyle medicine is based on six pillars: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, managing stress, maintaining relationships, and avoiding risky behaviors related to tobacco and alcohol.…”

“…15 With an emphasis on illness prevention and quality of life optimization, this approach adds value to traditional care delivery models and increases patient satisfaction. 16 The foundation of lifestyle medicine is based on six pillars: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, managing stress, maintaining relationships, and avoiding risky behaviors related to tobacco and alcohol. Lifestyle medicine interventions include prescriptions advocating for a whole-food plant-predominant diet, creating and monitoring a physical activity plan, optimizing sleep, recognizing implications of stress on health and developing a management plan, advocating for support in community, and encouraging smoking cessation and avoidance of risky substances.…”