CME | From Prescriptions to Prevention: How Lifestyle Medicine Can Change Your Practice and Your Patients

The CME on the Go series of the Inside Family Medicine podcast lets you earn up to 0.5 CME credits per episode — join us as we explore the transformative power of lifestyle medicine, focusing on its role in preventing, treating, and reversing chronic diseases. Discover how implementing small, sustainable changes in key lifestyle areas can dramatically improve both patient outcomes and physician satisfaction.

In this episode, we dive into the foundational principles of lifestyle medicine, a growing field that places prevention and whole-person care at the forefront of medical practice. Experts discuss the six pillars of lifestyle medicine—nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep, avoidance of risky substances, and relationships—and how these factors contribute to disease prevention and overall well-being. Listeners will also gain practical tips for incorporating lifestyle medicine into busy medical practices, motivating patients to make lasting changes, and navigating reimbursement challenges. This episode highlights the power of a lifestyle-first approach in reshaping both patient care and physician fulfillment.

Your host for this episode is Tamaan Osbourne-Roberts, MD, MBA, FAAFP, chief medical officer and vice president of health strategy at the public sector health plan Colorado Access. Joined by guests, Amy Mechley, MD, FAAFP, DipABFM, DipABLM, Chair of the Board for the American and International Boards of Lifestyle Medicine and co-founder of a direct primary care practice in Cincinnati, Ohio; Beth Polk, MD, FAAFP, DipABLM, Associate Professor at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, focused on integrating lifestyle medicine into medical education and chronic disease management; and Brenda Rea, MD, DrPH, PT, RD, FACLM, DipABLM, Medical Director of Education for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and faculty member at Loma Linda University Health.

Whether you're navigating patient queries or seeking to enhance your clinical knowledge, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for family physicians. Tune in now and earn CME credit!

Credit Claiming

After listening to the podcast episode, claim 0.5 AAFP credit by following the provided link. https://www.aafp.org/assessment/take/15584/e

Learning Objectives:

1. Define lifestyle medicine and explain how it differs from traditional medical practices.
2. Identify the pillars of lifestyle medicine and how they can improve health outcomes and prevent chronic diseases.
3. Describe practical strategies to implement lifestyle medicine in daily practice with patients.
4. Discuss the challenges and opportunities of getting reimbursement for lifestyle medicine interventions.

Topics

• 00:00 Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine
• 01:22 Meet the Experts
• 02:36 Defining Lifestyle Medicine
• 07:13 The Six Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine
• 15:38 Implementing Lifestyle Medicine in Practice
• 20:28 Motivating Patients for Lifestyle Changes
• 25:07 Reimbursement and Financial Considerations
• 29:18 Future of Lifestyle Medicine
• 33:28 Gratitude and Conclusion

Resources

• Lifestyle Medicine in Practice
• Colors of the Rainbow: How Lifestyle Medicine and Culinary Medicine Promote Well-Being
• Implementing Shared Medical Appointments Utilizing Full Plate Living

References

• Naderpoor N, Barmare A, Skouteris H, Jack B, Teede H. Editorial: Using technology for healthy lifestyle and weight management. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Aug 4;13:973006. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.973006. PMID: 35992147; PMCID: PMC9386469.

Disclosure

It is the policy of the AAFP that all individuals in a position to control content disclose any relationships with commercial interests upon nomination/invitation of participation. Disclosure documents are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest and, if identified, conflicts are resolved prior to confirmation of participation. Only those participants who had no conflict of interest or who agreed to an identified resolution process prior to their participation were involved in this CME activity.

All individuals in a position to control content for this session have indicated they have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclaimer:

Copyright 2024. AAFP. The views presented in this broadcast are the speaker's own and do not represent those of AAFP.  The information presented is for general, educational, or entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal, health, financial, or other advice.  AAFP makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and is not responsible for results that may arise from its use.  Consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and respective governing bodies for applicable laws. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by AAFP unless specifically stated otherwise. AAFP and the AAFP logo are registered trademarks of American Academy of Family Physicians.