Academic Lifestyle Medicine

There is no longer any serious doubt that what individuals do in their daily lives profoundly impacts their short and long-term health, quality of life, and risk of developing chronic disease. Despite overwhelming evidence in this area, physicians often feel inadequately prepared to discuss these issues with their patients. This results from the relative lack of education for physicians in these components of lifestyle medicine. Authored by renowned cardiologist and lifestyle medicine researcher, Dr. James Rippe and lifestyle medicine education and behavioral medicine expert, Dr. Beth Frates, Academic Lifestyle Medicine: A Curriculum for Medical Educators blends state of the art information on the robust medical literature supporting lifestyle medicine with an innovative approach to medical education.

The books starts with an extensive discussion of the robust evidence that underlies the major components of lifestyle medicine including physical activity, nutrition, weight management, substance abuse and addiction, sleep, and positive connections to others. This information is then linked to how this evidence can be used to lower the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, the metabolic syndrome, brain health, cognitive function, and many other health issues. The authors then provide a specific framework for applying the principles of lifestyle medicine to all stages of medical education—from undergraduate to graduate training and continuing medical education. Additional specialty topics include the evidence supporting lifestyle medicine practice to assure healthy aging, the unique lifestyle challenges for women and how lifestyle medicine applies to healthy habits amongst children and families. Other topics include how lifestyle medicine components interact with planetary health, health equity and advocacy to numerous professional and regulatory groups.

A volume in the Lifestyle Medicine Series, this book is a must read for physicians wishing to understand the robust academic foundations of modern lifestyle medicine practice. It also provides an authoritative guide for physicians who are tasked with preparing the next generation of physicians in lifestyle medicine.