Transform Your Health with Lifestyle Medicine Part 1

Making small, attainable habits is a practical way to build a healthy and realistic lifestyle that may transform your health in the long term. The most common causes of death and disease in North America — such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even some cancers, are preventable and related to lifestyle choices. While genetics may play a role, they account for only 5–10% of chronic conditions. Your daily habits and environment play a role in whether these conditions develop.

Lifestyle medicine focuses on preventing, managing, and often reversing chronic diseases through lifestyle changes. It’s the foundation of any treatment plan, whether medications are recommended or not. Once a condition develops, lifestyle changes are often the first step in treatment, and when followed consistently, they may reverse disease when done intensively.

How is lifestyle medicine different from traditional medicine?

Lifestyle medicine physicians are board-certified in a medical specialty, such as family medicine, providing the same services as their peers. They are trained in evidence-based lifestyle interventions and work closely with patients to create personalized, realistic action plans, or “lifestyle prescriptions.”

Traditional medical counseling on lifestyle often involves giving direct advice, which may work for some patients. Lifestyle medicine physicians assess lifestyle factors, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep quality, social connection, stress management and substance use. Assessment tools are used to understand each patient’s readiness to make changes. Emotional, physical and social barriers are identified and addressed, and a personalized lifestyle prescription is provided.

Who can benefit from lifestyle medicine?

Lifestyle medicine offers tailored support for almost everyone, with interventions such as:

• Autoimmune conditions: An anti-inflammatory diet can help reduce inflammation and work with medications for people living with conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

• Chronic disease management: Conditions like Type 2 diabetes or hypertension can often be improved with better nutrition, movement and stress management.

• Chronic pain: Treating chronic pain is not just about joints and muscles, it’s also about inflammation, nervous system regulation and stress. Movement, nutrition and stress management can help manage pain.

• Hormone balance: Reproductive hormones are influenced by gut health, movement and nutrition. Women experiencing irregular cycles or hormone issues can benefit from personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies.

• Mental health: Exercise and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction are as effective as antidepressants for treating depression and anxiety disorders, respectively. Even small movements, including a nature walk or dancing, can release endorphins, lift mood and improve brain health.

• Prevention: If you have a family history of diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure, lifestyle medicine focuses on proactive steps and using evidence-based strategies to lower your risk.

• Sleep: Not getting enough sleep can have health consequences, such as increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease. Sleep hygiene, including screen time limits and regular exercise, can lead to more restorative rest.

All of these interventions have multiple benefits as people age. Small, consistent lifestyle changes help people stay active, mobile and independent longer.

Karina Doucet, MD, DipACLM, is a certified lifestyle medicine physician. She is also a family physician who offers comprehensive primary care services and specialized lifestyle medicine to support her patients’ overall well-being. Visit UF Health Community and Family Medicine – Jacksonville or call 904-383-1002 to make an appointment.

Visit UFJaxPrimaryCare.org to find a primary care practice near you.