What is Lifestyle Medicine?

"The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease."- Thomas A. Edison.

Lifestyle Medicine is the use of evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic approaches, such as 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 chronic disease. How does this compare to conventional medicine?

In conventional medicine, the approach is disease focused. Treatment are targeted acutely towards pathogens or long term for controlling disease. However, rarely are patients given the responsibility to actively participate in the management plan. This is where lifestyle medicine differs.

It is estimated that 1 in 5 adult Malaysians are living with diabetes, 1 in 3 are living with hypertension, and nearly half are overweight or obese (National Health and Morbidity Survey, 2019). Noncommunicable diseases are a significant health burden and public health challenge in our country. These numbers have probably increased further over these past few years. These diseases are not caused by some pathogen invading our bodies; these diseases are caused by our own lifestyle factors and small modifications in the 6 S’s can make a huge difference.

Savour (Nutrition)

Start moving (Exercise)

Sleep

Stress management

Social connectivity

Substance cessation

What I have told you so far might sound all too familiar but how many of us actually pay attention to these aspects of life? The key is to BEGIN. Make small, undetectable decisions every day until those choices become a habit.