Global Lifestyle Medicine: For People Who Need It the Most but Have It the Least.

Abstract

In many low- and middle-income countries, chronic or noncommunicable disease is rising exponentially leading to high rates of death and disability. Many low-resource countries also still have high rates of infectious disease, leading to a double burden. As demographics shift and people are able to afford higher calorie convenience foods there can be concomitant obesity and malnutrition. Lifestyle medicine can prevent and reverse these diseases, but the concepts of lifestyle medicine are not reaching the people who need them the most. Lifestyle medicine's unique contribution to the fight against noncommunicable disease is well trained providers who can reach people, really hear their stories, and provide tools for them on their journey, which can affect individuals, communities, and the planet. Providers all over the world are realizing this and joining together in the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance (LMGA) to build a network of providers; share best practices, educational resources, and research initiatives; and to advocate on the global stage. The contribution lifestyle medicine has to offer in synergy with public health efforts has been recognized by the World Health Organization, and the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance has been invited to partner with them to reduce noncommunicable disease by 30% by 2030.