Past News Items - May 2024

In the News

OmniActive Partners With CRN To Raise Macular Carotenoids For Prenatal Nutrition Awareness

American College of Lifestyle Medicine Celebrates 20th Anniversary and Announces Speakers, Presenting Sponsor for 2024 Annual CME/CE-Accredited Conference Oct. 27-30

Microbiome Webinar: Gut Permeability and Microbiome Composition as Possible Targets to Ameliorate Inflammation and Improve Health, Presented by Alessio Fasano, MD and hosted by Seed Health

Natural toxins in food: Many people are not aware of the health risks

Does getting out and about in the community affect cognitive function?

How does exercise benefit the brain?

Study suggests that air pollution promotes inflammation in the brain, accelerating cognitive decline and increasing risk of dementia

Low testosterone in men associated with higher risk for death

Global leaders in lifestyle medicine mark Lifestyle Medicine Week with declaration for urgent actions to address burden of non-communicable diseases

OmniActive Partners With CRN To Raise Macular Carotenoids For Prenatal Nutrition Awareness

 Bridgewater, N.J. and Mumbai, India (May 2, 2024) — OmniActive Health Technologies (OmniActive) is proud to announce its collaboration with the Council of Responsible Nutrition (CRN) to highlight the significance of lutein and zeaxanthin isomers for prenatal nutrition at The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s (ACOG) Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting.

The partnership aims to educate and elevate awareness among obstetricians and gynecologists, and other maternal healthcare practitioners about the pivotal role of lutein and zeaxanthin in supporting maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. This initiative underscores OmniActive and CRN's commitment to advancing the understanding of nutritional requirements during pregnancy and ensuring the availability of scientifically validated products to meet these needs.

“It’s wonderful to have OmniActive as one of our featured partners during the ACOG annual event to help spread the word on the importance of prenatal nutrition,” said Dr. Andrea Wong, Sr. Vice President, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Council of Responsible Nutrition. “CRN continues our efforts in supporting supplement manufacturers and ingredient suppliers in bringing clinically studied products to consumers to help meet their nutritional needs. Advancing awareness at the physician’s level is a huge part of this equation and this meeting is an effective way of reaching them.”

In the US, prenatal vitamins and supplements sales are expected to have exponential growth in the coming years, with estimates of $740M in 2023 rising to $1.43B by 2031, according to SkyQuest Technology. This growth is indicative of an increasing awareness of the importance of nutrition and supplementation during pregnancy. Moreover, a recent study showed that roughly 60% of gynecologists believe that 80-100% of their patients take supplements during pregnancy. As research around the nutritional needs in pregnancy expands, so will the need to bring products that deliver efficacious levels of certain nutrients, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, to the market.

“Current evidence supports the preferential accumulation of lutein and zeaxanthin in the human eye and neural tissues during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. This suggests that lutein may play a functional and protective role in infant visual and cognitive development.  As part of our Lutein For Every Age campaign, our goal is to help educate healthcare practitioners on this latest nutritional science research and the benefits of achieving adequate dietary lutein during pregnancy,” said Deshanie Rai, PhD, FACN, VP of Global Science, Regulatory and Advocacy at OmniActive Health Technologies. “OmniActive is proud to partner with the CRN Foundation’s Prenatal Nutrition Centre to promote awareness among healthcare practitioners on the nutritional relevance of lutein for both mom and baby.” 

“Lutein for Every Age” is an educational initiative, which focuses on raising awareness of early and consistent lutein and zeaxanthin intake to help support eye, cognitive, and general health throughout life. Through various media, digital platforms, in-person events, scientific advocacy, and key opinion leaders, OmniActive remains committed to educating consumers and healthcare practitioners on the importance of these essential nutrients.

This year’s ACOG meeting will take place from May 17-19, 2024, in San Francisco, CA and is one of the largest US events of its kind, drawing thousands of physicians and healthcare professionals. To learn more about OmniActive’s latest studies on lutein and zeaxanthin or the "Lutein for Every Age" initiative visit Lutemax.com/lfea.

About OmniActive

Established in 2005, OmniActive Health Technologies seeks to improve lives through innovative science and natural health solutions. OmniActive's product portfolio consists of scientifically validated, IP-protected, branded Specialty Actives and an extensive portfolio of natural Botanical Actives for global customers in the dietary supplement, functional food, and beverage markets. The company has offices in Mumbai, India, and Bridgewater, New Jersey.

American College of Lifestyle Medicine Celebrates 20th Anniversary and Announces Speakers, Presenting Sponsor for 2024 Annual CME/CE-Accredited Conference Oct. 27-30

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) today announced the keynote speaker lineup for its 2024 Lifestyle Medicine Annual Conference, set for October 27-30, in person at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Fla., as well as virtually. The hybrid event, presented by Lore Health, will showcase the evidence-based why and how of lifestyle medicine, including food as medicine, as the urgently needed foundation of a transformed and sustainable system of healthcare delivery. It will also include celebration of ACLM's 20th anniversary.

ST. LOUIS, May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) today announced the keynote speaker lineup for its 2024 Lifestyle Medicine Annual Conference, set for October 27-30, in person at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla., with virtual registration also available. The hybrid event will showcase how lifestyle medicine is changing the paradigm of medical education and clinical practice to restore health for those living with chronic disease. Presenting sponsor for the event is Lore Health, a leading lifestyle-medicine focused accountable care organization (ACO).

"Our post-conference survey last year showed 96% of attendees felt the information provided at this conference would improve their clinical practice or role within their organization."

LM2024 registrants will include primary care and specialist MDs and DOs, physician associates, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, registered dietitians, exercise physiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, social workers, speech audiologists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, health coaches, healthcare executives, students, medical residents, researchers and others seeking to learn more about lifestyle medicine and/or establish or grow lifestyle medicine clinical practices.

LM2024 will serve as the crescendo of ACLM's 20th anniversary celebration, marking the 2004 founding of the College, now recognized as the nation's fastest growing medical professional association. Commemorating two decades of accomplishments and visionary leadership, all nine ACLM presidents, past and present, will be part of the conference's opening session:

John Kelly, MD, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM, Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist (2004-2008)
Marc Braman, MD, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM (2008-2009)
Wayne Dysinger, MD, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM, Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist (2009-2012)
Liana Lianov, MD, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM (2012-2014)
David Katz, MD, MPH, FACLM (2014-2016)
George Guthrie, MD, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM (2016-2018 )
Dexter Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM (2018-2020)
Cate Collings, MD, FACLM, DipABLM (2020-2022)
Beth Frates, MD, FACLM, DipABLM (2022-present)

A partial list of keynote speakers and session topics includes:

"More Consensus than Controversy in Nutrition: Whole Food Plant Based Diet"

•  Christopher Gardner, PhD; Director of Nutrition Studies, Stanford Prevention Research Center
• Michelle Hauser, MD, MS, MPA, FACP, DipABLM, FACLM, Chef; Obesity Medicine Director of the Medical Weight Loss Program, Stanford Lifestyle and Weight Management Center

"What Actually Keeps Us Happy and Healthy?: Lessons from an 85-Year Study of Human Thriving"

• Robert Waldinger, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

"Bringing Food as Medicine to Scale - A Systems Change for Health Equity"

• Michel Nischan, Chef, Co-founder and Chair of Wholesome Wave

Panel: "Lifestyle Medicine Clinical Intervention: At the Heart of Whole Health"

• Wayne Jonas, MD, President of Healing Works Foundation
• Wayne Dysinger, MD, MPH, FACLM, FACPM, DipABLM, Founder & CEO of Lifestyle Medical
• Shawn Martin, MHCDS, CEO of AAFP
• Kameron Matthews, MD, JD, FAAFP, Chief Health Officer of Cityblock Health
• ACLM Board Member & Planning Committee Chair Meagan L. Grega, MD, FACLM, DipABLM, moderator

Panel: "Cultivating the Future: The Intersection of Education and Lifestyle Medicine"

• Lisa Howley, PhD, MEd, AAMC Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
• Kristin Schleiter Hitchell, JD, LLM, ACGME Vice President, Public Policy and External Relations
• Brenda Rea, MD, DrPH, PT, RD, DipABLM, LM Intensivist, Lifestyle Medicine Residency Curriculum (LMRC) Executive Director
• Jennifer Trilk, PhD, FACSM, FAGLN, DipACLM, Director of the Lifestyle Medicine Core Curriculum at University of South Carolina Greenville School of Medicine
• ACLM President Beth Frates, MD, FACLM, DipABLM, moderator

Panel: "Healthcare Innovation Landscape: Perspectives from Key Leaders in the Field"

• Kate Goodrich, MD, MHS, Humana CMO and Former CMO of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI)
• Susannah Bernheim, MD, MHS, CMMI Chief Quality Officer/Acting Chief Medical Officer
• Robert D. Karch, MD, MPH, FAAP, Director of the Florida Department of Health Orange County
• Louise Probst, MBA, RN, Executive Director of the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition
• ACLM President-elect Padmaja Patel, MD, FACLM, DipABLM, moderator

Other keynote presenters will include:

• Co-directors of the Brain Health and Alzheimer's Prevention Program at Loma Linda University Dean Sherzai, MD, MAS, MPH, and Ayesha Sherzai, MD, presenting on the powerful connection of LM and brain health and cognitive function.
• Past ACLM Presidents Dexter Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM, and David Katz, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP, FACLM, speaking to lifestyle medicine's impact on the practice of medicine and on patient well-being and lifespan, casting vision for the future of the field.

Other luminaries of the field will be added in the coming weeks as ACLM finalizes what will be an exceptional LM2024 conference faculty.

In addition to its line-up of keynote speakers, the conference will include concurrent sessions, an exhibitor pavilion, award presentations and networking opportunities with medical professionals and industry leaders. Research Row will be featured onsite, highlighting what is anticipated to be more than 150 published research abstracts. The opportunity to register for both pre- and post-conference workshops on a wide array of topics is available exclusively to in-person and virtual LM2024 conference registrants.

LM2024 Online includes livestream and on-demand access to the in-person keynote and concurrent sessions of LM2024, as well as interactive networking opportunities, free bonus content and more.

"LM2024 is the premiere lifestyle medicine event where attendees gather online and in-person to learn about the latest research, explore implementation models, and hear about cutting-edge advancements in the field from top experts," said 2024 Conference Chair Meagan L. Grega, MD, FACLM, DipABLM. "As ACLM celebrates its 20th anniversary at this year's conference, participants will engage in what's happening today and be prepared to ignite progress for the next 20 years of the field. Our post-conference survey last year showed 96% of attendees felt the information provided at this conference would improve their clinical practice or role within their organization. Don't miss this exceptional educational and networking opportunity."

Concurrent sessions for the in-person event will be offered in four tracks: Application of Lifestyle Medicine; Allied Health Providers in Lifestyle Medicine; Healthcare Transformation Through Lifestyle Medicine; and Current Issues in Healthcare.

A wide array of 15 pre-conference and four post-conference in-depth workshops will be offered in-person; three will be offered virtually. All workshops are part of the registration process, at an additional registration fee.

Attendees may receive continuing education credit for the lifestyle medicine-related content/sessions. Attendees will have 60 days post conference to claim live CME. Recordings of the plenary and concurrent sessions will be available to conference registrants for a full year.

"Lore is proud to sponsor the 2024 Lifestyle Medicine Conference, and we look forward to being part of the experience," said Lore Health ACO Executive Director Mark Briesacher, MD. "ACLM leads the way for lifestyle medicine and the conference is the best place to connect with colleagues, share ideas, and learn about ways to help people we serve find their best path to health."

For more information about the conference or to register, visit Lifestyle Medicine Conference 2024 - American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

In-person registration will close on October 21, or when the 2,500-person maximum in-person capacity is reached. Last year's in-person conference sold out six weeks in advance. Virtual registration will remain open throughout the conference. In-person workshop registration will close on October 4, although most workshops sell-out far in advance of the deadline.

The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM) certification exam will be offered on a day of the participant's choice between November 23 and December 8th at Prometric testing centers across the U.S. Registration for the exam will close September 30th. New this year, attendance at LM2024, either in person or online, satisfies the live CME prerequisite to sit for the ABLM certification exam.

ABOUT ACLM®: Serving as a transformation catalyst, disruptor of the status quo, and a galvanized force for change, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine is the nation's medical professional society advancing the field of lifestyle medicine as the foundation of a redesigned, value-based and equitable healthcare delivery system, essential to achieving the Quintuple Aim and whole person health. ACLM educates, equips, empowers, and supports its members through quality, evidence-based education, certification, and research to identify and eradicate the root cause of chronic disease, with the clinical outcome goal of health restoration as opposed to lifelong disease management.

ABOUT LORE HEALTH ACO: Lore promotes self-reflection and experiential learning to help people adopt healthy lifestyles. Founded in 2022, the Lore Health ACO is the nation's leading lifestyle-medicine focused ACO and has openings for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), community health clinics, and lifestyle practices for 2025. Lore provides a new revenue stream for your clinic, incentives for your patients, and a simple lifestyle medicine solution. To learn more, send an email to info@lorehealthcare.com.

Microbiome Webinar: Gut Permeability and Microbiome Composition as Possible Targets to Ameliorate Inflammation and Improve Health, Presented by Alessio Fasano, MD and hosted by Seed Health

Our GI mucosal barrier shields our body from the environment. In this webinar, Dr. Fasano will explore how barrier disruptions can have far-reaching consequences, from gastrointestinal disorders to impacts on neurological health. We’ll discover how our microbiome emerges as a strategic target to fortify our gut barrier.  The webinar will be held June 11 at 12 PM EST, and registrants can also view a recording on demand after the event. Click here to register.

Natural toxins in food: Many people are not aware of the health risks

Many people are concerned about residues of chemicals, contaminants or microplastics in their food. However, it is less well known that many foods also contain toxins of completely natural origin. These are often chemical compounds that plants use to ward off predators such as insects or microorganisms. These substances are found in beans and potatoes, for example, and can pose potential health risks. However, according to a recent representative survey by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), only just under half of the respondents (47 per cent) were even aware of plant toxic substances. The BfR Consumer Monitor Special on naturally occurring plant toxins also revealed that this risk worries 27 per cent. In contrast, residues in food (e.g. from plant protection products) and contaminants, i.e. substances that are not intentionally added to food (e.g. heavy metals), cause concern for 63 and 62 per cent of respondents respectively. "The survey results make it clear that risks of natural origin tend to be underestimated, while risks of synthetic origin tend to be overestimated," says BfR President Professor Andreas Hensel."

Raw plant-based foods are consumed frequently by 34 per cent, occasionally or rarely by 45 per cent and very rarely or not at all by 19 per cent.

Which foods with naturally occurring plant toxins do you already know? If this question is asked openly and without pre-selection, potatoes are named first (15 per cent), followed by tomatoes, raw beans (nine per cent each) and mushrooms (five per cent).

Naturally occurring toxic substances worry 27 per cent in the survey. More than half of the respondents (53 per cent) feel poorly informed about plant toxins in food, while only eight per cent feel well informed.

At 63 per cent and 62 per cent respectively, significantly more consumers are concerned about residues or contaminants.

Residues are residual amounts of substances that are used in the production of food. For example, residues can remain in fruit, vegetables or cereals even if plant protection products are used correctly.

Contaminants, on the other hand, are undesirable substances that unintentionally end up in food. They can occur naturally in the environment, arise during the processing of raw materials into food or be released into the environment as a result of human activities. Contaminants are undesirable because they can be harmful to health under certain circumstances.

The study also shed light on the related topic of "moldy food". Here, too, there is a clear need for education. Even small amounts of mold toxins can be harmful to the health of humans and animals. Moldy jam, for example, should therefore always be disposed of completely. Nevertheless, 25 per cent of respondents stated that they only remove the moldy part. Even in the case of moldy berries, affected and surrounding fruit should no longer be eaten. Only 60 per cent adhere to this rule.

About the BfR

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Germany. The BfR advises the Federal Government and the States (‘Laender’) on questions of food, chemicals and product safety. The BfR conducts independent research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.

This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.

Does getting out and about in the community affect cognitive function?

The extent of individuals’ mobility within their community—how much they get out and about—may be linked to their cognitive function, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

In the study of 7,016 Black and white adults aged 52 years and older who completed various questionnaires, greater community mobility was significantly associated with better cognitive function, although the association was small.

Because higher atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk is associated with both mobility limitations and cognitive decline, investigators hypothesized that associations between mobility and cognition would be stronger among individuals with a history of or at high risk of ASCVD, but they found that this was not the case. In fact, the association was strongest in individuals with a low risk of ASCVD.

“This study provides further evidence that our cognitive and physical health are interconnected,” said corresponding author Emily B. Levitan, ScD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. “It suggests that we need to take a holistic approach that addresses both lifestyle and more traditional measures of health.”

How does exercise benefit the brain?

New research published in Aging Cell provides insights into how exercise may help to prevent or slow cognitive decline during aging.

For the study, investigators assessed the expression of genes in individual cells in the brains of mice. The team found that exercise has a significant impact on gene expression in microglia, the immune cells of the central nervous system that support brain function. Specifically, the group found that exercise reverts the gene expression patterns of aged microglia to patterns seen in young microglia.

Treatments that depleted microglia revealed that these cells are required for the stimulatory effects of exercise on the formation of new neurons in the brain’s hippocampus, a region involved in memory, learning, and emotion.

The scientists also found that allowing mice access to a running wheel prevented and/or reduced the presence of T cells in the hippocampus during aging. These immune cells are not typically found in the brain during youth, but they increase with age.

“We were both surprised and excited about the extent to which physical activity rejuvenates and transforms the composition of immune cells within the brain, in particular the way in which it was able to reverse the negative impacts of aging,” said co–corresponding author Jana Vukovic, PhD, of The University of Queensland, in Australia. “It highlights the importance of normalizing and facilitating access to tailored exercise programs. Our findings should help different industries to design interventions for elderly individuals who are looking to maintain or improve both their physical and mental capabilities.”

Study suggests that air pollution promotes inflammation in the brain, accelerating cognitive decline and increasing risk of dementia

Results from new study suggests that long-term exposure to air pollution leads to increased risk in dementia in Denmark.

"We also find association with noise, but this seems to be explained by air pollution primarily. Our study is in line with growing international knowledge on this topic." says Professor at Section of Environmental Health Zorana Jovanovic Andersen.

This is an important finding which adds that air pollution, beyond well-known effects on respiratory and cardiovascular system, also has major impacts on our brain, promoting inflammation in the brain, accelerating cognitive decline, and increasing risk of dementia.

"This is the first study in Denmark showing a link between air pollution and dementia. Although air pollution levels in Denmark have been declining and are relatively low, compared of the rest of Europe and world, this study shows that there are still significant and concerning health effects that demand more action and policies towards reduction of air pollution. As we are going to live longer, and more and more people will be diagnosed with dementia, this finding is important as it offer an opportunity to prevent new dementia cases, and ensure more healthy aging, by cleaning up the air we breathe," says Zorana Jovanovic Andersen.

An internationally unique study

The study followed a cohort of nurses for 27 years, from 1993 until 2020.

“This is internationally unique and necessary in regards of the development of dementia which can take many years. Second, the air pollution was estimated for each participant for a total of 41 years (from 1979 until 2020), which is also incredible. Third, we had extensive details about participant’s lifestyle and socio-economics and all our result take them in consideration. The novelty of this study is the very detailed and accurate data that we used,” says Research Assistant from Section of Environmental Health Stéphane Tuffier.

“Nurses with higher physical activity had a lower risk of dementia when exposed to air pollution compared to nurses with less physical activity. This indicates that physical activity might mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution on cognitive decline and risk of dementia,” Tuffier says.

Low testosterone in men associated with higher risk for death

A systematic review and meta-analysis found that a low baseline (endogenous) serum testosterone concentration in men is associated with increased risk for all-cause mortality, and a very low baseline testosterone with increased risk of cardiovascular death. According to the authors, this study clarifies previous inconsistent findings on the influence of sex hormones on key health outcomes in aging men. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from the University of Western Australia, collaborating with researchers from Australia, Europe, and North America, reviewed 11 studies comprising more than 24,000 participants to clarify associations of sex hormones with mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in aging men. Eligible studies were prospective cohort studies, previously identified in a published systematic review, of community-dwelling men with total testosterone concentrations measured using mass spectrometry and at least 5 years of follow-up. Individual patient data (IPD) was used to summarize relationships between baseline hormone concentrations (total testosterone; sex hormone-binding globulin, luteinizing hormone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol) and relative risk for CVD events, CVD deaths, and all-cause mortality. The data showed that only men with low total testosterone concentrations had higher risks for all-cause mortality. A key finding was that men with a testosterone concentration below 7.4 nmol/L (<213 ng/dL) had higher risk for all-cause mortality, regardless of LH concentration. Men with a testosterone concentration below 5.3 nmol/L (<153 mg/dL) had increased risk of cardiovascular death.

The author of an accompanying editorial from the University of Washington suggests that this meta-analysis is particularly valuable because of its rigorous methodology. The study is the first of its kind to perform IPD meta-analysis of major prospective cohort studies which used mass spectrometry, the most accurate method of testosterone measurement that can also be used to measure DHT and estradiol accurately. In addition, to perform the IPD meta-analysis, the authors obtained raw data from 9 of the included studies and then reanalyzed the combined data. This method allowed for more sophisticated analysis of combined data from multiple studies and provided more robust testing for associations.

Global leaders in lifestyle medicine mark Lifestyle Medicine Week with declaration for urgent actions to address burden of non-communicable diseases

Leaders in lifestyle medicine from around the world have announced a formal declaration recognizing the increasing global burden of non-communicable disease and establishing a consensus on the critical importance of a lifestyle medicine approach to building more sustainable and equitable healthcare systems. The "Doha Declaration," published here, is being shared during Lifestyle Medicine Week, the annual global celebration held this year May 18-24.

"The importance of the Doha Declaration is that we could be an active part of a global change which transforms health care—how we treat ourselves and our patients, with a method that is simple, natural and well established."

The declaration grew from the February convening of more than two dozen international experts in lifestyle medicine from 21 countries at a forum in Qatar to advocate for the growing medical specialty as an effective approach to treating noncommunicable chronic disease and transforming health worldwide. The event was organized by The Institute for Population Health (IPH) of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance (LMGA), and the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM). It was hosted by IPH and included experts from WCM-Q, the Qatar Ministry of Public Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN), and LMGA.

The declaration is intended for use by lifestyle medicine medical professional associations and societies worldwide to effectively articulate a global consensus for lifestyle medicine as a potential solution to unsatisfactory clinical outcomes, rising health costs and frustration by patients due to the ineffective care they receive. Governmental bodies, local and regional public health agencies, health care and health education institutions, advocacy groups and research institutions are among the organizations for which the declaration could support collaboration.

Noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes kill 41 million people each year, which is 74% of all deaths globally, according to the World Health Organization. Every year, 17 million people die from a noncommunicable disease before age 70.

"We have assimilated the science and experienced the results of non-communicable disease prevention and reversal in individual patients, groups and communities using lifestyle medicine therapeutic interventions," the declaration states. "We know that, when fully applied using the scientific evidence from multidisciplinary fields currently available, a whole-health lifestyle medicine approach can improve patient satisfaction, decrease health care costs, and maximize health outcomes…We find this inspiring, energizing, and rational. It has become why we do what we do. It is the new, transformational approach we urge all to adopt for our world."

Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty that uses therapeutic lifestyle interventions as a primary modality to treat chronic conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Lifestyle medicine-certified clinicians are trained to apply evidence-based, whole-person, prescriptive lifestyle change to treat and, when used intensively, often reverse such conditions. Applying the six pillars of lifestyle medicine—a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, positive social connections and avoidance of risky substances —also provides effective prevention for these conditions.

"Recognizing lifestyle medicine as a fundamental part of health care isn't a luxury; it's a necessity," said Ravinder Mamtani, MD, DipABLM, FACLM, vice-chair of the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance Advisory Board, and vice dean for the Institute for Population Health, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. "This approach lays the groundwork for easing the disease burden, reducing health care costs, and enriching the quality of our lives. The Doha Declaration will be pivotal for advancing lifestyle medicine globally."

Sandra Lanza, MD, DipIBLM, president of the Chilean Society of Lifestyle Medicine, called the declaration "an instrument that allows us to promote health promotion efforts at the national level, in South America and around the world."

Klára Koncz, MD, DipIBLM, board member for the Hungarian Society of Preventive and Lifestyle Medicine, said "The importance of the Doha Declaration is that we could be an active part of a global change which transforms health care—how we treat ourselves and our patients, with a method that is simple, natural and well established."

Lifestyle medicine is a rapidly growing field. Since the inaugural certification exam in 2017, nearly 6,700 clinicians—5,000 physicians and 1,700 health professionals— worldwide in 75 countries have become certified in lifestyle medicine.

A global impact partnership announced May 14 between Blue Zones and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) will create an additional certification status: "Blue Zones-Certified Physician" or "Blue Zones-Certified Healthcare Professional."

The Blue Zones certification opportunity will debut in early 2025 and be exclusive to physicians and medical professionals trained and certified in lifestyle medicine by the IBLM. Within the U.S., this exclusivity will apply to physicians trained and certified by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and non-physicians by ACLM. Physicians and other health professionals interested in learning more about earning certification to practice lifestyle medicine, the prerequisite to the Blue Zones-certified physician and healthcare professional recognition, may register their interest here.

ABOUT IBLM

The International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM) is the global lifestyle medicine certification body that sets and maintains standards for assessment and credentialing of physicians and doctorate/master's level health professionals in evidence-based lifestyle medicine. Certification as an IBLM diplomate represents specialized knowledge in the practice of lifestyle medicine and distinguishes a health professional as having achieved competency in the field. IBLM is committed to the highest global scientific standards and proactive innovation to advance lifestyle medicine's promise of being a vital solution component to the world's unsustainable epidemic of noncommunicable disease.

ABOUT LMGA

The Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance (LMGA) represents the worldwide network of medical professional societies that bring together physicians and allied health professionals practicing and learning about the field of lifestyle medicine. The LMGA unites organizations under one banner for the purpose of collaboration, sharing of knowledge and best practices, standardization of the field, advocacy, and to amplify the health restoration story that lifestyle medicine delivers. Uniting national Lifestyle Medicine organizations on every continent, the LMGA enables global sharing of educational and clinical practice resources and sparks opportunities for synergistic collaboration, where medical professional leaders of all nations are working together to decrease the unsustainable global pandemic of non-communicable disease. The LMGA's vision statement is "A world free of non-communicable disease."