Pub Date : 2024-04-04DOI: 10.1177/15598276241242012
Mahima Gulati
Hormonal disorders like PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, male hypogonadism are commonly encountered in clinical practice in the US and worldwide, with rising frequency. These typically affect patients during young or middle age, compared with other common chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, where onset may usually be in middle or older age. Multiple studies point to the role of disordered lifestyle health behaviors as contributory to these endocrinopathies, and conversely therapeutic lifestyle changes leading to improvement in signs, symptoms, biochemical markers, and sequelae of these conditions. This article presents 3 different real life case studies of the conditions enlisted above and documents the positive impact of lifestyle improvements on their disease condition. Therapeutic lifestyle behaviors are an extremely useful and important component of management of these familiar endocrinologic disorders, and clinicians need to routinely counsel their patients about healthy lifestyle interventions when treating these common syndromes.
{"title":"Lifestyle Medicine’s Role in Common Hormonal Disorders: A Case-Based Discussion","authors":"Mahima Gulati","doi":"10.1177/15598276241242012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241242012","url":null,"abstract":"Hormonal disorders like PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, male hypogonadism are commonly encountered in clinical practice in the US and worldwide, with rising frequency. These typically affect patients during young or middle age, compared with other common chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, where onset may usually be in middle or older age. Multiple studies point to the role of disordered lifestyle health behaviors as contributory to these endocrinopathies, and conversely therapeutic lifestyle changes leading to improvement in signs, symptoms, biochemical markers, and sequelae of these conditions. This article presents 3 different real life case studies of the conditions enlisted above and documents the positive impact of lifestyle improvements on their disease condition. Therapeutic lifestyle behaviors are an extremely useful and important component of management of these familiar endocrinologic disorders, and clinicians need to routinely counsel their patients about healthy lifestyle interventions when treating these common syndromes.","PeriodicalId":47480,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140576565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-03DOI: 10.1177/15598276241242732
Fanny Huang, Deena Sukhon, Jessica R. Cummings, Nikita Lee, Elizabeth Carlson, Michelle Jankowski, Virginia Uhley
Background: Whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) dietary patterns can be used as a lifestyle modification to lower blood pressure and lose weight. This study aimed to observe the effects of WFPB dietary patterns and improve nutrition education in medical school. Methods: Forty-six medical students participated in the four-week Plant Plunge challenge, which consisted of a pre- and post-challenge health screening, weekly nutrition seminars, and the personal challenge to eat more WFPB. Afterward, an anonymous survey was sent to participants to analyze nutrition education quality in medical school. Results: The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test indicated statistically significant improvement in weight and blood pressure (BP) (N = 33). The median (interquartile range) difference in weight from pre- to post- was −.9 (−2.2, .0, P < .0461) pounds, whereas the differences in systolic and diastolic BP were −5.0 (−9.0, −.5, P < .049) and −7.0 (−11.0, −2.0, P < .0037) mmHg, respectively. Participants were significantly more likely to advocate for the integration of nutrition information into the medical school curriculum ( P = .0162). Conclusions: Short-term lifestyle modifications with WFPB dietary patterns help reduce weight and BP. Incorporating nutrition seminars in medical education may improve long-term patient outcomes.
{"title":"Empowering Medical Students: Unveiling the Benefits of Nutrition Seminars and Plant-Based Diets in Medical School Education","authors":"Fanny Huang, Deena Sukhon, Jessica R. Cummings, Nikita Lee, Elizabeth Carlson, Michelle Jankowski, Virginia Uhley","doi":"10.1177/15598276241242732","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241242732","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) dietary patterns can be used as a lifestyle modification to lower blood pressure and lose weight. This study aimed to observe the effects of WFPB dietary patterns and improve nutrition education in medical school. Methods: Forty-six medical students participated in the four-week Plant Plunge challenge, which consisted of a pre- and post-challenge health screening, weekly nutrition seminars, and the personal challenge to eat more WFPB. Afterward, an anonymous survey was sent to participants to analyze nutrition education quality in medical school. Results: The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test indicated statistically significant improvement in weight and blood pressure (BP) (N = 33). The median (interquartile range) difference in weight from pre- to post- was −.9 (−2.2, .0, P < .0461) pounds, whereas the differences in systolic and diastolic BP were −5.0 (−9.0, −.5, P < .049) and −7.0 (−11.0, −2.0, P < .0037) mmHg, respectively. Participants were significantly more likely to advocate for the integration of nutrition information into the medical school curriculum ( P = .0162). Conclusions: Short-term lifestyle modifications with WFPB dietary patterns help reduce weight and BP. Incorporating nutrition seminars in medical education may improve long-term patient outcomes.","PeriodicalId":47480,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine","volume":"61 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140576344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-03DOI: 10.1177/15598276241243296
Shelly S. Bakst, Dolev Karolinsky
Introduction: Vegetarianism in its various forms has gained global recognition in part because of the notion that it is healthier; however, associations between plant-based diets and selected lifestyle practices in Israel have yet to be clarified. Methods: A population-based sample consisting of 1396 Israeli adults was collected via telephone survey, between the years 2013-2014. Differentiation between self-defined and actual vegetarians was initially verified (based on food intake). Next, “actual” vegetarian status was studied in relation to demographics and health behaviors. Results: Approximately 5% (N = 65) of respondents (5.8% Jews and 3.0% Arabs) were “self-defined” vegetarians; but only about half (N = 33) adhered to genuine vegetarian diets. By contrast, nearly 2% (N = 26) of those self-identified as non-vegetarians were “actual” vegetarians; thus, 4.4% (N = 59) of the sample were verified “vegetarians.” And while socio-demographic features did not meaningfully capture differences by vegetarianism status, “actual” vegetarians were significantly more likely than non-vegetarians to be physically active (OR = 1.7), use nutritive supplements (OR = 2.4) and read food product labels (OR = 1.9; all P < .01). Conclusions: Aggregately, “actual” vegetarian participants were more inclined to have healthier lifestyle practices relative to their non-vegetarian counterparts. Forthcoming research using larger samples should however exploit constant assessment measures to validate the link between vegetarianism and health-promoting correlates.
{"title":"Prevalence of Vegetarianism and Lifestyle Correlates in a National Study","authors":"Shelly S. Bakst, Dolev Karolinsky","doi":"10.1177/15598276241243296","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241243296","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Vegetarianism in its various forms has gained global recognition in part because of the notion that it is healthier; however, associations between plant-based diets and selected lifestyle practices in Israel have yet to be clarified. Methods: A population-based sample consisting of 1396 Israeli adults was collected via telephone survey, between the years 2013-2014. Differentiation between self-defined and actual vegetarians was initially verified (based on food intake). Next, “actual” vegetarian status was studied in relation to demographics and health behaviors. Results: Approximately 5% (N = 65) of respondents (5.8% Jews and 3.0% Arabs) were “self-defined” vegetarians; but only about half (N = 33) adhered to genuine vegetarian diets. By contrast, nearly 2% (N = 26) of those self-identified as non-vegetarians were “actual” vegetarians; thus, 4.4% (N = 59) of the sample were verified “vegetarians.” And while socio-demographic features did not meaningfully capture differences by vegetarianism status, “actual” vegetarians were significantly more likely than non-vegetarians to be physically active (OR = 1.7), use nutritive supplements (OR = 2.4) and read food product labels (OR = 1.9; all P < .01). Conclusions: Aggregately, “actual” vegetarian participants were more inclined to have healthier lifestyle practices relative to their non-vegetarian counterparts. Forthcoming research using larger samples should however exploit constant assessment measures to validate the link between vegetarianism and health-promoting correlates.","PeriodicalId":47480,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine","volume":"89 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140576351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-03DOI: 10.1177/15598276241243277
Francine Varlete Leopoldina Barcelos, Karina Mary de Paiva, Marco José Machado, Patrícia Haas
Introduction: The most common hearing losses in the population are associated with genetic conditions, use of ototoxic substances or medications, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases and chronic ear diseases and the association of exposure to occupational risks or the natural aging process.Objective: Verify the association between hearing loss in workers and metabolic diseases.Method: Retrospective cross-sectional study with analysis of secondary data of subjects exposed to occupational noise and undergoing drug treatment for metabolic disease, attended in two occupational health clinics (C1 and C2) from January 2020 to December 2022, considering the data of reference examinations from the year 2005.Results: Of the n = 97 subjects evaluated, 73.20% were male, exposed to occupational noise (64.90%), with medication use for treating cardiovascular diseases (89.70%). The most recurrent auditory complaint was tinnitus (28.90%), n = 53 subjects presented sensorineural hearing loss with a statistical association between the decline of hearing loss and medications used for metabolic and hormonal regulation.Conclusion: Here was a higher frequency in the use of medications for treating cardiovascular diseases with a risk of triggering or worsening hearing loss in these subjects and greater impairment and decline of hearing thresholds were observed in the results of C2.
{"title":"Auditory Changes in Occupational Health Associated With Metabolic Diseases in Adult Workers","authors":"Francine Varlete Leopoldina Barcelos, Karina Mary de Paiva, Marco José Machado, Patrícia Haas","doi":"10.1177/15598276241243277","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241243277","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: The most common hearing losses in the population are associated with genetic conditions, use of ototoxic substances or medications, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases and chronic ear diseases and the association of exposure to occupational risks or the natural aging process.Objective: Verify the association between hearing loss in workers and metabolic diseases.Method: Retrospective cross-sectional study with analysis of secondary data of subjects exposed to occupational noise and undergoing drug treatment for metabolic disease, attended in two occupational health clinics (C1 and C2) from January 2020 to December 2022, considering the data of reference examinations from the year 2005.Results: Of the n = 97 subjects evaluated, 73.20% were male, exposed to occupational noise (64.90%), with medication use for treating cardiovascular diseases (89.70%). The most recurrent auditory complaint was tinnitus (28.90%), n = 53 subjects presented sensorineural hearing loss with a statistical association between the decline of hearing loss and medications used for metabolic and hormonal regulation.Conclusion: Here was a higher frequency in the use of medications for treating cardiovascular diseases with a risk of triggering or worsening hearing loss in these subjects and greater impairment and decline of hearing thresholds were observed in the results of C2.","PeriodicalId":47480,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140576519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-03DOI: 10.1177/15598276241243300
Kelli E. DuBois, Christine E. Blake, Caroline Rudisill, Sayward E. Harrison, James R. Hébert
Patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) seek a variety of methods to manage the physical and psychosocial burdens of illness on daily life. This study examines how individuals with UC: (1) utilize treatment and self-management methods and (2) make decisions regarding their use of these methods throughout the disease course. Adults living with UC ≥5 years and experienced ≥1 disease flare, participated in individual, semi-structured qualitative interviews. Transcripts were thematically analyzed using a constant comparative approach in NVivo12®. Participants (N = 21) described their decisions to utilize medical, lifestyle, and complementary methods, which were shaped by sources of information, attitudes toward self-management, and personal motivations. The poor quality of life associated with the daily burden of living with UC emerged as a primary motive for exploration and utilization of treatment and management methods. Participants reported primarily utilizing treatment and management methods as reactive responses to flares instead of preventive measures. Results provide insight into patient decision-making and may inform individualized patient care, improve patient–provider communication, and guide interdisciplinary efforts to support self-management among patients with UC. Findings highlight a need for greater focus on promoting preventive self-management lifestyle behaviors to protect against disease activity and progressive impairment.
{"title":"Use of Treatment and Self-Management Methods: Perspectives and Decisions of Patients With Ulcerative Colitis","authors":"Kelli E. DuBois, Christine E. Blake, Caroline Rudisill, Sayward E. Harrison, James R. Hébert","doi":"10.1177/15598276241243300","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241243300","url":null,"abstract":"Patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) seek a variety of methods to manage the physical and psychosocial burdens of illness on daily life. This study examines how individuals with UC: (1) utilize treatment and self-management methods and (2) make decisions regarding their use of these methods throughout the disease course. Adults living with UC ≥5 years and experienced ≥1 disease flare, participated in individual, semi-structured qualitative interviews. Transcripts were thematically analyzed using a constant comparative approach in NVivo12<jats:sup>®</jats:sup>. Participants (N = 21) described their decisions to utilize medical, lifestyle, and complementary methods, which were shaped by sources of information, attitudes toward self-management, and personal motivations. The poor quality of life associated with the daily burden of living with UC emerged as a primary motive for exploration and utilization of treatment and management methods. Participants reported primarily utilizing treatment and management methods as reactive responses to flares instead of preventive measures. Results provide insight into patient decision-making and may inform individualized patient care, improve patient–provider communication, and guide interdisciplinary efforts to support self-management among patients with UC. Findings highlight a need for greater focus on promoting preventive self-management lifestyle behaviors to protect against disease activity and progressive impairment.","PeriodicalId":47480,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140576325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-01DOI: 10.1177/15598276241242727
Danielle E. Lauber, Zibin Guo, Elizabeth D. Hathaway
The changing needs of our nation’s military veterans call for a change in the healthcare system delivery models providing their primary sources of care. The VA Healthcare System has incorporated a whole health movement emphasizing individualized approaches to healthcare by encouraging complementary and integrative programs. Wheelchair/Adaptive Tai Chi Chuan (W/A/TCC) is such program offering a transformative opportunity to programmatically enhance veteran healthcare services by enhancing the training of VA healthcare providers. This article explores the impacts of a 7-posture W/A TCC instructional training program for healthcare providers that has been facilitated throughout the VA healthcare system since 2016. The purpose is to better understand the impact this training has on healthcare providers, including Recreational Therapists (RTs). A mixed-methods design exploring participant perspectives showed increased confidence levels following training in several key areas and no statistically significant differences between RTs compared to all other healthcare providers. Meaningful impacts described by participants are explored. Overall discussion focuses on this specific training program’s unique applicability for directly influencing VA healthcare providers and the veterans being served. Overall results offer support for wheelchair/adaptive tai chi chuan training as one strategy that can be utilized to increase the success of holistic veteran healthcare.
{"title":"Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Provider Perceptions of Confidence Following a Wheelchair/Adaptive Tai Chi Chuan Training","authors":"Danielle E. Lauber, Zibin Guo, Elizabeth D. Hathaway","doi":"10.1177/15598276241242727","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241242727","url":null,"abstract":"The changing needs of our nation’s military veterans call for a change in the healthcare system delivery models providing their primary sources of care. The VA Healthcare System has incorporated a whole health movement emphasizing individualized approaches to healthcare by encouraging complementary and integrative programs. Wheelchair/Adaptive Tai Chi Chuan (W/A/TCC) is such program offering a transformative opportunity to programmatically enhance veteran healthcare services by enhancing the training of VA healthcare providers. This article explores the impacts of a 7-posture W/A TCC instructional training program for healthcare providers that has been facilitated throughout the VA healthcare system since 2016. The purpose is to better understand the impact this training has on healthcare providers, including Recreational Therapists (RTs). A mixed-methods design exploring participant perspectives showed increased confidence levels following training in several key areas and no statistically significant differences between RTs compared to all other healthcare providers. Meaningful impacts described by participants are explored. Overall discussion focuses on this specific training program’s unique applicability for directly influencing VA healthcare providers and the veterans being served. Overall results offer support for wheelchair/adaptive tai chi chuan training as one strategy that can be utilized to increase the success of holistic veteran healthcare.","PeriodicalId":47480,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine","volume":"255 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140576323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-01DOI: 10.1177/15598276241240412
Zipporah Brown, Anu M. Räisänen
In this article, we discuss and reflect on the essential components of our concurrent session presentation at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) annual conference LM2023, “Implementing Lifestyle Medicine Competencies in Didactic and Clinical Settings for Allied Health Professionals.” We illustrate the necessity of interdisciplinary lifestyle medicine approaches through a conscious fusion of analysis and storytelling. This review concludes with a call to action empowering the medical community to embrace interdisciplinary lifestyle medicine approaches in effort to increase access to equitable healthcare.
{"title":"Implementing Lifestyle Medicine Competencies in Didactic and Clinical Settings for Allied Health Professionals: A Call to Action","authors":"Zipporah Brown, Anu M. Räisänen","doi":"10.1177/15598276241240412","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241240412","url":null,"abstract":"In this article, we discuss and reflect on the essential components of our concurrent session presentation at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) annual conference LM2023, “Implementing Lifestyle Medicine Competencies in Didactic and Clinical Settings for Allied Health Professionals.” We illustrate the necessity of interdisciplinary lifestyle medicine approaches through a conscious fusion of analysis and storytelling. This review concludes with a call to action empowering the medical community to embrace interdisciplinary lifestyle medicine approaches in effort to increase access to equitable healthcare.","PeriodicalId":47480,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140576304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-23DOI: 10.1177/15598276241240374
Victoria Stang, Sneha Srivastava
In the realm of healthcare, the significance of social connections cannot be overstated. Beyond the traditional focus on pharmacological interventions and medical procedures, recognizing and nurturing positive social relationships has emerged as a fundamental aspect of lifestyle medicine. This article delves into the multifaceted nature of social connections and their profound impact on health outcomes, particularly in the context of chronic diseases like hypertension, mental health disorders, heart disease, and dementia. Moreover, it explores strategies for healthcare practitioners, with a special emphasis on pharmacists, to foster positive connections with patients, thereby enhancing shared decision-making, self-management, and overall well-being.
{"title":"The Social Prescription: Dispensing Wellness Beyond the Medication","authors":"Victoria Stang, Sneha Srivastava","doi":"10.1177/15598276241240374","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241240374","url":null,"abstract":"In the realm of healthcare, the significance of social connections cannot be overstated. Beyond the traditional focus on pharmacological interventions and medical procedures, recognizing and nurturing positive social relationships has emerged as a fundamental aspect of lifestyle medicine. This article delves into the multifaceted nature of social connections and their profound impact on health outcomes, particularly in the context of chronic diseases like hypertension, mental health disorders, heart disease, and dementia. Moreover, it explores strategies for healthcare practitioners, with a special emphasis on pharmacists, to foster positive connections with patients, thereby enhancing shared decision-making, self-management, and overall well-being.","PeriodicalId":47480,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140203019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-19DOI: 10.1177/15598276241240414
Geetha K. Veliah, Padma Venkatsubramanian
The global scenario of a contracted economy over 4% and distraught healthcare systems due to the 2019 pandemic behooves us to redesign our strategies to move towards holistic approaches that allow health and wellbeing to be uniquely viewed within their contexts, promising sustainability. World-over, communities are more aware of the connectedness with nature and the role of positive behaviors. Disproportionate investments go into secondary and tertiary cure in healthcare systems and there is a minimal uptake of primary prevention. Investments in primordial prevention (PP) that can help achieve sustainable health are inadequate. PP is defined as an approach that prevents the risk factors for disease conditions from manifesting through maintenance of good health by embracing healthy environment, diet, and lifestyle behaviors, to function optimally. We propose integration of wellness as a primordial prevention strategy for sustainable public health using the 3 Ps: People, Places, and Policies/Programs. Wellness is holistic and multi-dimensional and is a primordial prevention concept as it focuses on people thriving based on a positive approach to health. The authors point out that the stumbling block in public health is due to unsustainable behavior as a result of misplaced priorities.
{"title":"Promoting Wellness as a Primordial Prevention Strategy for Achieving Sustainable Public Health in the Post-Covid 19 Era","authors":"Geetha K. Veliah, Padma Venkatsubramanian","doi":"10.1177/15598276241240414","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241240414","url":null,"abstract":"The global scenario of a contracted economy over 4% and distraught healthcare systems due to the 2019 pandemic behooves us to redesign our strategies to move towards holistic approaches that allow health and wellbeing to be uniquely viewed within their contexts, promising sustainability. World-over, communities are more aware of the connectedness with nature and the role of positive behaviors. Disproportionate investments go into secondary and tertiary cure in healthcare systems and there is a minimal uptake of primary prevention. Investments in primordial prevention (PP) that can help achieve sustainable health are inadequate. PP is defined as an approach that prevents the risk factors for disease conditions from manifesting through maintenance of good health by embracing healthy environment, diet, and lifestyle behaviors, to function optimally. We propose integration of wellness as a primordial prevention strategy for sustainable public health using the 3 Ps: People, Places, and Policies/Programs. Wellness is holistic and multi-dimensional and is a primordial prevention concept as it focuses on people thriving based on a positive approach to health. The authors point out that the stumbling block in public health is due to unsustainable behavior as a result of misplaced priorities.","PeriodicalId":47480,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140168271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-19DOI: 10.1177/15598276241234012
Tamami Shirai, Kazuyo Tsushita
With Japan’s economic growth, its life expectancy increased from 1965, and since 1980, Japan has become one of the longest-lived countries in the world. Strong government-led initiatives such as low-cost health insurance, widely distributed health screenings, a new law to prevent non-communicable diseases established in 1956, Shokuiku (Japanese culinary education), and stress-measuring systems in the workplace contributed to the population’s longevity. In addition to these public initiatives, Japan has benefited from evolving lifestyle practices over its long history. These include Washoku (Japanese traditional food), which utilizes the complex interaction of individual nutrients unique to Japan as well as numerous metabolically active compounds, the interrelation of Japan’s population levels with its plant-dominant diet, a mindful culture connected with nature, and the principle of hara-hachi-bu (Confucianism-based caloric restriction habit; “eat until 80% full”), and so on. In 2002, Japan took the remarkable action of stipulating by law that citizens must deepen their interest in and understanding of the importance of healthy lifestyle habits, be aware of their own health status, and strive to improve their health throughout their lives. Today, to protect its future, Japan must face a new challenge: a population that is declining and is the world’s fastest-aging.
{"title":"Lifestyle Medicine and Japan’s Longevity Miracle","authors":"Tamami Shirai, Kazuyo Tsushita","doi":"10.1177/15598276241234012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241234012","url":null,"abstract":"With Japan’s economic growth, its life expectancy increased from 1965, and since 1980, Japan has become one of the longest-lived countries in the world. Strong government-led initiatives such as low-cost health insurance, widely distributed health screenings, a new law to prevent non-communicable diseases established in 1956, Shokuiku (Japanese culinary education), and stress-measuring systems in the workplace contributed to the population’s longevity. In addition to these public initiatives, Japan has benefited from evolving lifestyle practices over its long history. These include Washoku (Japanese traditional food), which utilizes the complex interaction of individual nutrients unique to Japan as well as numerous metabolically active compounds, the interrelation of Japan’s population levels with its plant-dominant diet, a mindful culture connected with nature, and the principle of hara-hachi-bu (Confucianism-based caloric restriction habit; “eat until 80% full”), and so on. In 2002, Japan took the remarkable action of stipulating by law that citizens must deepen their interest in and understanding of the importance of healthy lifestyle habits, be aware of their own health status, and strive to improve their health throughout their lives. Today, to protect its future, Japan must face a new challenge: a population that is declining and is the world’s fastest-aging.","PeriodicalId":47480,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140168415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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