Lifestyle Medicine Initiative
2025 Trends
The integration of wellness and lifestyle medicine marks a critical evolution in healthcare, acknowledging the profound impact of daily habits on overall well-being and highlighting the importance of the 2025 Lifestyle Medicine Trends. Historically, lifestyle medicine has focused on the prevention and treatment of physical conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. However, recent paradigm shifts now recognize mental and emotional well-being as equally vital to total health, making them integral parts of the lifestyle medicine spectrum. Lifestyle medicine is uniquely positioned to address this by incorporating strategies that not only treat physical conditions but also enhance mental health. By combining lifestyle medicine, behavioral health, nutrition, modern medicine, advanced diagnostics, and AI technology, we can improve well-being and longevity. This holistic approach bridges the gap between physical and mental health, promoting not just the treatment of illness but a state of flourishing, revolutionizing healthcare and holistic wellness.
TREND 1: Harnessing Lifestyle Medicine to Combat Physician Burnout
Physician burnout is a pressing issue, impacting both healthcare providers’ well-being and
patient care quality, especially as a physician shortage looms. Our team will be addressing this by integrating lifestyle medicine. Programs focused on nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and sleep hygiene aim to improve provider health and resilience, enhancing individual well-being and fostering more sustainable, attractive healthcare workplaces.
These lifestyle medicine initiatives are also transforming healthcare by promoting a collaborative care model. Technology enhances communication and care coordination between patients and providers, boosting provider satisfaction and patient outcomes while supporting high-quality care.
However, rising costs due to inflation, labor shortages, increased mental health demands, and the emergence of new therapies are pressuring employers. Balancing short-term cost management with long-term investments in workforce well-being is crucial. Two-thirds of employers now view health and well-being as integral to their strategy, recognizing that supporting the health of their providers is key to ensuring quality patient care and effectively meeting future healthcare challenges.
Sources:
Lifestyle Medicine Practitioners Implementing a Greater Proportion of Lifestyle Medicine Experience Less First published online June 27, 2023 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08901171231182875
Integrating behavioral health improves patient outcomes and makes medical practice more satisfying. Here’s one way to do it” May-June 21-. aafp.org/pubs/2021
Combining Lifestyle Medicine and Positive Psychology to Improve Mental Health and Emotional Well-being” Published 2018 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6146362/
“Physician burnout: contributors, consequences and solutions published March 5th 2018 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12752 burnout: contributors, consequences and solutions
TREND 2: Designing Comprehensive Well-being Programs for Healthcare Providers
Amidst the growing concern over physician burnout, this trend highlights its implications for healthcare delivery; health systems are increasingly recognizing the importance of comprehensive well-being programs tailored specifically for physicians and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs). These programs are designed to address the multifaceted nature of burnout by providing support across various dimensions of
well-being, including emotional, physical, and professional aspects.
The cornerstone of these well-being programs is a holistic approach that goes beyond traditional stress management techniques. They incorporate elements such as peer support groups, mindfulness training, leadership development, and flexible work schedules to create a more supportive work environment fostering organizational
well-being. By acknowledging and addressing the unique challenges faced by healthcare providers, these programs aim to foster a culture of wellness that empowers physicians and APPs to thrive both personally and professionally.
Sources:
Lifestyle Medicine Core Competencies Comprehensive Course2024-25
https://lifestylemedicine.org/project/lifestyle-medicine-core-competencies
The Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine” -Mayo Clinic February 2024
https://www.mcpiqojournal.org/article/S2542-4548(23)00075-9/fulltext
Forbes | Lifestyle Medicine: An Approach For Supporting Employee Well-Being August 4, 2022
https://www.summusglobal.com/blog/forbes-lifestyle-medicine-an-approach-for-supporti ng- employee-well-being/2022
TREND 3: Integrating Technology and Digital Health
This trend focuses on integrating technology and digital health into wellness and lifestyle medicine, thereby expanding healthcare capabilities through the use of apps, wearables, and online programs. This trend enhances patient autonomy by enabling individuals to manage their health through the use of digital solutions proactively. It also fosters a collaborative care model, connecting patients with healthcare providers and specialists, which streamlines communication and care coordination.
Jensen’s approach leverages advanced fields, including genomics, metabolomics, and microbiome research, to develop customized interventions. By integrating biomarkers and personal data, lifestyle strategies are tailored to each individual’s unique needs. His wellness programs address physical, mental, and emotional well-being, tailoring their approach to the unique genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors of each individual.
This unified health management strategy leverages digital platforms to enhance patient education and advocacy regarding food and lifestyle choices, ensuring effective and personalized care throughout the wellness journey.
Sources:
Digital Health Technology for Real-World Clinical Outcome Measurement Using Patient-Generated Data: Systematic Scoping Review 2011
Published on November 11, 2023 Volume 23 jmir.org
Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: the role of nutrition in health promotion and chronic disease prevention Published July 2013 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
TREND 4: Collaborative Care & Multidisciplinary Approach
The trend of connecting wellness and lifestyle medicine emphasizes collaborative care and a multidisciplinary approach. It focuses on enhancing the synergy among diverse healthcare professionals to provide a well-rounded approach to health and wellness. This trend anticipates a significant increase in collaboration and integration across various disciplines, aiming to ensure a comprehensive and holistic approach to patient health strategies.
Sources:
The Time is Now For Lifestyle Medicine: Lesson From Lifestyle Medicine Leaders published September 2022
Cross-Disciplinary Care: A Systematic Review on Teamwork Processes in Health CarePublished September 2019
TREND 5: Workplace Wellness
The trends in connecting wellness and lifestyle medicine, spearheaded by encompasses two significant areas: Workplace Wellness and New Research in Lifestyle Medicine. Together, these trends underscore a comprehensive approach to wellness and lifestyle medicine, highlighting the importance of personalized,
evidence-based interventions in both workplace settings and broader health research. Schy’s leadership in these areas signifies a pivotal shift towards integrating lifestyle medicine into everyday practices and policies to foster healthier lives. In Workplace Wellness, the focus is on health promotion within the workplace to prevent chronic diseases. This involves the development of personalized and evidence-based wellness programs tailored to the specific needs and challenges of workplace environments. The aim is to create healthier work settings that not only improve employee health but also enhance overall productivity and well-being.
Sources:
How Well Do Workplace Wellness Programs Work published April 2019
Workplace Health & Wellness Report published May 2023 shrm.org
TREND 6: New Research in Lifestyle Medicine
This trend delves into various groundbreaking areas. Key research highlights include exploring the impact of the gut microbiome on chronic diseases and how lifestyle changes can influence this relationship. There is a strong emphasis on how lifestyle adjustments, such as diet and physical activity, can improve sleep quality and address chronic health conditions. Mind-body interventions are being studied for their potential to be integrated into lifestyle medicine, offering holistic approaches to health and wellness. Additionally, this trend focuses on examining how lifestyle medicine can tackle social determinants of health, thereby promoting health equity. A significant aspect of this research is the advancement of precision lifestyle medicine, which aims to customize interventions to individual genetic and biological characteristics, offering more effective and personalized care.
Sources:
Lifestyle Medicine News and Updates – published September 2023
https://lifestylemedicine.org/
American College of Lifestyle Medicine, with the support of the Ardmore Institute of Health, aims to revise the Full Plate Diet group curriculum and materials for better relevance to an African-American audience. Published November 2021. ardmoreinstituteofhealth.org ate
TREND 7: The Military and Lifestyle Medicine
The military has recognized the importance of lifestyle medicine and has implemented programs to promote healthy behaviors among service members. For example, the US Army has implemented the Performance Triad, which focuses on improving sleep, activity, and nutrition to enhance soldier readiness and performance. The US Navy has a similar program called Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System (NOFFS), which provides sailors with resources and guidance on nutrition, physical activity, and injury prevention.
The military has also recognized the importance of addressing mental health as part of lifestyle medicine. The Department of Defense has implemented the Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Program, which includes components to promote resilience and emotional well-being.
There is growing interest in the use of lifestyle medicine in the military to not only improve the health and well-being of service members but also to reduce healthcare costs and improve readiness. A study published in Military Medicine found that lifestyle interventions, including weight management and physical activity programs, can lead to significant reductions in healthcare costs and improvements in readiness.
Overall, lifestyle medicine has the potential to play a significant role in enhancing the health and readiness of service members, as well as reducing healthcare costs within the military.
Sources:
Lifestyle Medicine in the Military Healthcare System
Lt. Col. Chelsea Payne, MD, MPH | Maj. Regan Stiegmann, DO, MPH published May 25, 2022 portal.lifestlemedicine.org
GIVING BACK: Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation
Givingbacktaskforce.com— Published June 2024
TREND 8: Housing and Health Equity
The statistics are alarming but point to a hopeful path forward. Addressing lifestyle behaviors— such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, social connection, and avoiding risky substances—can reverse, treat, and prevent chronic diseases.
Education is the first step in tackling the chronic disease burden. However, clinicians often receive little training on how lifestyle factors influence disease reversal or how to support lasting behavior change. The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) National Training Initiative, part of the White House National Strategy to reduce diet-related diseases by 2030, addresses this educational gap. It builds a nationwide network of healthcare professionals capable of driving behavior change and fostering healthier communities.
Reaching under-resourced communities remains a priority, ensuring that marginalized populations, often bearing the heaviest chronic disease burden, receive accessible, whole-person, cost-effective care. This commitment guarantees that those most at risk have access to evidence- based care addressing the root causes of illness.
Sources:
Equipping clinicians to address lifestyle-related chronic disease health disparities Published January 2024-current
https://LifestyleMedicinetraininginitiative
WHO Housing and health guidelines published November 2018-Current
Targets of Sustainable Development Goal 3 Published 2018 Current
TREND 9: Lifestyle Medicine in Education
The trend of incorporating Lifestyle Medicine into education, spearheaded by Leanne Mauriello, PhD, focuses on enriching curricula and training educators in this field. It integrates lifestyle medicine principles across existing courses and fosters partnerships with community organizations to enhance the learning experience. Emphasizing research and program evaluation, this approach ensures that educational practices are rooted in evidence-based findings, aiming to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of how lifestyle factors influence health and wellness.
Sources:
- The Lifestyle Medicine National Training Initiative published May 25, 2024 clinicians.org
- The Heal Initiative published October 19, 2023 lifestylemedicine.org
- The Lifestyle Medicine National Training Initiative Integrating Behavioral Health into Primary Care Published May 2021 aafp.org
TREND 10: Lifestyle Medicine in Healthcare Systems
The trend of integrating Lifestyle Medicine into healthcare, led by Dr. Deb Duro, MD, emphasizes improving health equity and patient outcomes through informed lifestyle choices. This approach empowers individuals by promoting lifestyle medicine in educational settings, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to make healthier decisions. Key strategies include comprehensive nutrition education, promoting regular physical activity, and embedding wellness initiatives within healthcare systems to support health equity for all.
FLIPANY (Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth), led by Lynne Kunins, addresses childhood obesity and hunger with practical, engaging programs. By teaching healthy food preparation, ensuring food security, and promoting physical education, FLIPANY helps children and families adopt nutritious eating habits and an active lifestyle, tackling obesity and hunger holistically.
Educational advancement in lifestyle medicine is another key aspect of this trend. It involves developing specialized curricula for schools and universities, training educators to incorporate lifestyle medicine principles, and partnering with community organizations to extend healthy living beyond the classroom. Through systemic change, education, and collaboration, this movement aims to create lasting improvements in individuals’ long-term health and wellness.
Sources:
- Leading with Nutrition: Leveraging Federal Programs for Better Health Recommendations from the BPC SNAP Task Force published March 12, 2018 bipartisanpolicy.org
- Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine and its Evolution published January 2024 ncbi.nlm.nih.govTrend 11 Advances in Longevity through Lifestyle Medicine
Dr. Alison Levitt, MD, and Dr. Sunil Kumar, MD, highlight advancements in medical imaging technologies, biomarker identification, and noninvasive diagnostics that are enabling early detection and intervention for age-related diseases. These trends, ranging from high-tech interventions that slow cellular aging to low-tech lifestyle and environmental approaches, are shaping our future health span and lifespan.
One key trend is the development of personalized longevity plans, which utilize genetic testing, epigenetic analysis, and biomarkers to create tailored health strategies. Clinics are also exploring senolytic drugs that target aging cells, delaying age-related diseases. Nutrigenomics, which utilizes genetic insights to design personalized diets, is gaining prominence, while research on telomere regeneration shows promise in slowing cellular aging.
Technological advancements play a crucial role in enhancing longevity. Digital health tools, AI-driven healthcare, wearable devices, and health apps enable continuous monitoring and real-time data for proactive health management. Genomics and gene editing present new opportunities for treating age-related diseases, although ethical concerns persist.
Social, lifestyle and environmental factors are also recognized for their impact on longevity. Strong social connections, clean environments, stress management, and physical activity are key to promoting long, healthy lives. Together, these trends are shaping a comprehensive approach to extending human longevity.
Sources:
Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine and its Evolution published July 23rd 2024 sciencedirect
Unlocking the biochemical secrets of longevity: balancing healthspan and lifespan published July 3rd, 2024 febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
TREND 11: Advances in Longevity through Lifestyle Medicine
Dr. Alison Levitt, MD, and Dr. Sunil Kumar, MD, highlight advancements in medical imaging technologies, biomarker identification, and noninvasive diagnostics that are enabling early detection and intervention for age-related diseases. These trends, ranging from high-tech interventions that slow cellular aging to low-tech lifestyle and environmental approaches, are shaping our future health span and lifespan.
One key trend is the development of personalized longevity plans, which utilize genetic testing, epigenetic analysis, and biomarkers to create tailored health strategies. Clinics are also exploring senolytic drugs that target aging cells, delaying age-related diseases. Nutrigenomics, which utilizes genetic insights to design personalized diets, is gaining prominence, while research on telomere regeneration shows promise in slowing cellular aging.
Technological advancements play a crucial role in enhancing longevity. Digital health tools, AI-driven healthcare, wearable devices, and health apps enable continuous monitoring and real-time data for proactive health management. Genomics and gene editing present new opportunities for treating age-related diseases, although ethical concerns persist.
Social, lifestyle and environmental factors are also recognized for their impact on longevity. Strong social connections, clean environments, stress management, and physical activity are key to promoting long, healthy lives. Together, these trends are shaping a comprehensive approach to extending human longevity.
Sources:
Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine and its Evolution published July 23rd 2024 sciencedirect
Unlocking the biochemical secrets of longevity: balancing healthspan and lifespan published July 3rd, 2024 febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
