Section: Module 1: Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine | Lifestyle Medicine | NextGenU.org

  • Before starting this first module, please take a moment to take the short knowledge Pre-test above. It allows us to assess various aspects of the course, and you must receive your certificate upon completion.

    First, do no harm. — Hippocratic oath 

    This module introduces the foundational concepts of lifestyle medicine, introducing all six pillars (nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, substance use, and relationships/social connectedness) while emphasizing the role of physician health, advocacy, and planetary health in promoting sustainable lifestyle interventions. It establishes lifestyle medicine as an evidence-based approach to preventing and treating chronic disease through behavior change.

    Instructional Goals covered in this module:
    • Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine.

    Approximate time required for the readings for this module (at 144 words/minute): 35 hours and 40 minutes.

    • This module acts as a foundation for the rest of the course, providing an introduction to the principles of lifestyle medicine (LM) and an understanding of LM as an evidence-based practice. You will learn the definition of LM and how LM plays a unique role in the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases. By understanding both the health advantages and disadvantages of lifestyle behaviors, you will comprehend primary healthcare's important role in screening, diagnosing, and monitoring lifestyle-related conditions. By the end of this module, you will appreciate that a physician's healthy lifestyle influences a patient's health behavior outcome. You are invited to examine your personal lifestyle and identify a health habit you would like to improve upon (and subsequently maintain) while taking this course.

      This module requires you identify a mentor with whom you would like to work.  Your mentor should be someone who has worked as a primary-care physician for five years or more, with a particular interest in LM. Your mentor will serve as your main consultant and educator on new material and will help you understand application of these lessons in clinical practice.

      Upon completion of this module, students should be able to perform the following:

      • Define lifestyle medicine (LM) and describe the unique role of LM
      • Describe the LM core competencies as identified by a national consensus panel
      • Cite the scientific evidence that demonstrates the association of risk conditions (from unhealthy behaviors) as key to health outcomes
      • Understand the importance of LM in treating the world's lifestyle disease burden
      • Cite scientific data supporting that physicians who practice healthy lifestyles are more likely to offer counseling and improve patient outcomes
      • Understand environmental lifestyle-related factors and their impact on non-communicable diseases.
    • Required Learning Resources
    • Students must
      Mark as done
      NOTE: Each lesson includes a corresponding Lesson Summary (LS) as part of the required learning materials. Please review each LS carefully, as it will help you become familiar with the course content and reinforce key concepts.
    • Supplementary Learning Resources (Not Required)
    • resource icon
      Study Guide: Module 1: Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine File

      In this document, we summarized key topics of the module to help you study. Please note that these notes do not cover all of the material in its entirety; you are still encouraged to read and study all of the required learning resources.

      324.0 KB
    • page icon
      Flashcards Module 1: Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine Page

      Here are specialized flashcards designed to reinforce and test your knowledge throughout this course.

    • scorm icon
      Microlearning Module 1: Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine SCORM package
    • url icon
      Stretching Exercise URL

      To refresh your mind and body before taking this module, let's start with some stretching exercises: 

    • Module 1: Lesson 1: Definition, Role, and Evidence Base for Lifestyle Medicine
       
      Student Learning Objectives:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Define Lifestyle Medicine (LM) and describe the unique role of LM.
      • Describe the LM core competencies as identified by a national consensus panel.
      • Understand the importance of LM in treating the nation's lifestyle disease burden.
      • Cite the scientific evidence that demonstrates the association of risk conditions (from unhealthy behaviors) as key to health outcomes.
       
      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • resource icon
      Lesson Summary Module 1: Lesson 1:Definition, Role, and Evidence Base for Lifestyle Medicine File
      Students must
      Mark as done
      The lesson summaries provide a detailed overview of the key concepts and information covered in the external resources. However, learners are encouraged to explore the linked materials for a deeper understanding and more comprehensive analysis of the topics.
      243.8 KB
    • url icon
      Noncommunicable Diseases URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (7 minutes)

      World Health Organization (WHO) - 2024

    • url icon
      Mental health and non-communicable diseases: a narrative review URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (18 minutes)

      PM - 2022

    • url icon
      Lifestyle Medicine Standards URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the section titled "Definition of Lifestyle Medicine" and the content of Table 1 (page 2). (5 min)

      American College of Lifestyle Medicine - 2012

    • url icon
      The Academic Basis of Lifestyle Medicine URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (15 min)

      American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine (AJLM) - 2023

    • url icon
      What is Lifestyle Medicine? URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the web page and watch the video. (18 min)

      British Society of Lifestyle Medicine - 2023

    • url icon
      Overview of Lifestyle Medicine URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (15 min)

      NIH National Library Medicine - 2023

    • url icon
      Lifestyle Medicine Prevention, Treatment, and Reversal of Disease URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (17 min)

      Medical Clinics of North America - 2023

    • url icon
      The acceptability of lifestyle medicine for the treatment of mental illness: perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illness URL
      Students must
      View

      Read under the headline: Introduction - Results - Conclusion. (18 min)

      BMC Public Health - 2024

    • url icon
      Prioritized Research for the Prevention, Treatment, and Reversal of Chronic Disease: Recommendations From the Lifestyle Medicine Research Summit URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (40 min)

      Frontiers Media - 2020

    • url icon
      Implications of lifestyle medicine in medical practice URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (15 min)

      NIH National Library of Medicine - 2023

    • Recommended Additional Readings
    • url icon
      Lifestyle Medicine - A Modern Medical Discipline Transforming Healthcare URL

      Watch the entire video. (4 hours 8 min)

      British Society of Lifestyle Medicine - 2022

    • url icon
      Incorporating Mental Health Into Lifestyle Medicine URL

      Read the entire article. (14 min)

      American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine (AJLM) - 2022

    • url icon
      Incorporating Lifestyle Medicine Into Primary Care Practice URL

      Read the entire article. (26 min)

      American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine (AJLM) - 2022

    • Module 1: Lesson 2:  Key Clinical Processes in Lifestyle Medicine
       
      Student Learning Objectives:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Describe screening and diagnostic tests relevant to lifestyle-related diseases.
      • List components of the patient history and physical with emphasis on lifestyle risk factors.
      • Describe how to interpret the tests using evidence-based national guidelines.
      • Describe appropriate situations for referring and collaborating with other health professionals, such as dieticians, health educators, fitness trainers, and psychologists.
      • Demonstrate how to screen, diagnose, and monitor a lifestyle-related condition (case example).
       
      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • resource icon
      Lesson Summary Module 1: Lesson 2: Key Clinical Processes in Lifestyle Medicine File
      Students must
      Mark as done

      The lesson summaries provide a detailed overview of the key concepts and information covered in the external resources. However, learners are encouraged to explore the linked materials for a deeper understanding and more comprehensive analysis of the topics.

      238.7 KB
    • url icon
      American College of Lifestyle Medicine Expert Consensus Statement: Lifestyle Medicine for Optimal Outcomes in Primary Care URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (20 minutes)

      American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine - 2023

    • url icon
      Screening for Abnormal Blood Glucose and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Recommendation Statement URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (13 minutes)

      American Academy of Family Physicians - 2016

    • url icon
      10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (11 minutes)

      Mayo Clinic - 2022

    • url icon
      USPSTF A and B Recommendations URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the content of the table that is relevant to lifestyle medicine. (5 minutes)

      U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) - 2016

    • url icon
      Impact of Lifestyle Modifications on Cardiovascular Health: A Narrative Review URL
      Students must
      View

      Read under headlines: (5 minutes)

      • Introduction and Background
      • Impact of Diet on Cardiovascular Health
      • Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health
      • Smoking Cessation and Cardiovascular Health
      • Stress Management and Cardiovascular Health 

      NIH - 2023

    • url icon
      Adult Health Questionnaire URL
      Students must
      View

      Examine the questionnaire. (10 minutes)

      Mint Health Clinics

    • url icon
      Hypertension - Diagnosis and Management URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire web page. (15 minutes)

      HealthLink BC, Government of British Columbia - 2024

    • url icon
      Impact of Lifestyle Modifications on Cardiovascular Health: A Narrative Review URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the complete article. (20 minutes)

      NIH - 2023

    • url icon
      Lifestyle Medicine in Diabetes Care: The Lifedoc Health Model URL
      Students must
      View

      Read under headlines: (25 minutes)

      • Abstract
      • Introduction
      • Lifestyle Medicine at LDH

      NIH - 2022

    • url icon
      2023 ESH Hypertension Guideline Update: Bringing Us Closer Together Across the Pond URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the complete article. (30 minutes)

      American College of Cardiology - 2024

    • url icon
      Updating the Canadian clinical practice guideline for managing pediatric obesity: a protocol URL
      Students must
      View

      Read under the headline:  (10 minutes)

      • Abstract
      • Summarizing the evidence
      • Interpretation

      National Center for Biotechnology Information,  U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health - 2022

    • url icon
      Overweight and obesity management URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire guideline. (25 minutes)

      National Institute for Health and Care Excellence - 2025

    • url icon
      Enhancing primary care and preventive services through Interprofessional practice and education URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (19 minutes)

      Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - 2020

    • url icon
      Evaluating the Effectiveness of Lifestyle Interventions in Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (25 minutes)

      Journal of Ecohumanism - 2024

    • url icon
      Impact of lifestyle modification on type 2 diabetes outcomes URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (25 minutes)

      Scientific Scholar on behalf of Future Health- 2024

    • Recommended Additional Readings
    • url icon
      The Impact of Lifestyle on Heart Health URL

      Read the entire article. (7 minutes)

      Orlando Clinical Research Center - 2024

    • url icon
      Referrals to a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist URL

      Read the entire guideline. (30 minutes)

      Alberta Health Services - 2020

    • Module 1: Lesson 3: Introduction to Health Behavior Change
       
      Student Learning Objectives:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Understand the role of behavioral determinants on positive and negative health outcomes.
       
      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • resource icon
      Lesson Summary Module1: Lesson 3: Introduction to Health Behavior Change File
      Students must
      Mark as done

      The lesson summaries provide a detailed overview of the key concepts and information covered in the external resources. However, learners are encouraged to explore the linked materials for a deeper understanding and more comprehensive analysis of the topics.

      222.3 KB
    • url icon
      Encouraging Health Behavior Change: Eight Evidence-Based Strategies URL
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Read the entire article. (25 minutes)

      American Academy of Family Physicians - 2018

    • url icon
      Why behavior change is hard - and why you should keep trying URL
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Read the entire article. (16 minutes)

      Harvard Medical School - 2021

    • Module 1: Lesson 4: The Role of Physician Health and Physician Advocacy to Support Healthy Lifestyles
       
      Student Learning Objectives:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Cite scientific data supporting that physicians who practice healthy lifestyles are more likely to offer counseling and improve patient outcomes.
       
      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • resource icon
      Lesson Summary Module 1: Lesson 4: The Role of Physician Health and Physician Advocacy to Support Healthy Lifestyles File
      Students must
      Mark as done

      The lesson summaries provide a detailed overview of the key concepts and information covered in the external resources. However, learners are encouraged to explore the linked materials for a deeper understanding and more comprehensive analysis of the topics.

      221.2 KB
    • url icon
      Future Directions for Health Equity and Lifestyle Medicine: Insights from Former US Surgeons General URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (7 minutes)

      American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine - 2022

    • url icon
      Incorporating Lifestyle Medicine Into Primary Care Practice: Perceptions and Practices of Family Physicians URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (30 minutes)

      American College of LM - 2022

    • url icon
      Strategies for Promotion of a Healthy Lifestyle in Clinical Settings: Pillars of Ideal Cardiovascular Health: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (7 minutes)

      American Heart Association-Circulation - 2021

    • Recommended Additional Readings
    • url icon
      Healthcare Provider Advocacy for Primary Health Care Strengthening: A Call for Action URL

      Read the entire article. (20 minutes)

      Journal of Primary Care & Community Health - 2022

    • url icon
      Johns Hopkins HealthCare Solutions Desk Exercises URL

      Practice the recommended exercises that you can do at your desk, as outlined in the images at the bottom of the pdf document. (7 minutes)

      Johns Hopkins Medicine - 2023

    • Module 1: Activity and Quiz Evaluation
    • assign icon
      Enrichment Activity (optional): The Blue Zones Project Assignment
      Students must
      View
    • forum icon
      Module 1- Critical Thinking Discussion: Exploring Lifestyle Medicine in Modern Healthcare Forum
      Students must
      View
      Start discussions: 1

      Instructions

      Respond to the following questions in a cohesive essay-style discussion. Your responses should demonstrate critical analysis, application of concepts, and evaluation of lifestyle medicine principles in healthcare contexts.

      Discussion Questions

      1. Evaluation of Paradigms: Analyze how lifestyle medicine fundamentally differs from conventional medical approaches in addressing chronic disease. What evidence-based arguments would you present to healthcare administrators who are skeptical about allocating resources to lifestyle medicine initiatives?

      2. Systems Analysis: Critically examine the interconnections between the six pillars of lifestyle medicine (nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, substance avoidance, and social connections). How might these interconnections create both challenges and opportunities when designing comprehensive treatment plans?

      3. Interprofessional Integration: Design an ideal interprofessional lifestyle medicine team for treating complex lifestyle-related conditions. Justify your team composition and explain how you would address potential disciplinary conflicts or overlapping scopes of practice.

      4. Future Directions: Based on current epidemiological trends and healthcare evolution, predict how lifestyle medicine might transform healthcare delivery systems over the next decade. What emerging technologies or methodologies might enhance or disrupt the practice of lifestyle medicine?

      Submit

      Submit your completed essay-style analysis through the course learning management system. Your submission should include your comprehensive written responses demonstrating critical analysis, application of concepts, and evaluation of lifestyle medicine principles. Ensure all references follow 7th Edition APA formatting.

    • quiz icon
      Quiz: Module 1

      To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the attempt quiz button to view the case studies and respond to the questions.

      TO PASS THIS QUIZ YOU MUST OBTAIN A SCORE OF 80%.

    • Module 1: Lesson 5:  Planetary Health and Sustainable Lifestyle Medicine
       
      Student Learning Objectives:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Explain the concept of planetary health and its connection to human health.
      • Analyze the environmental impact of dietary choices, transportation, and lifestyle patterns.
      • Describe co-benefits of lifestyle choices for personal and environmental health.
      • Apply planetary health principles to patient counseling.
      • Advocate for policies supporting both human and environmental health.
       
      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • resource icon
      Lesson Summary: Planetary Health and Sustainable Lifestyle Medicine File
      Students must
      Mark as done

      The lesson summaries provide a detailed overview of the key concepts and information covered in the external resources. However, learners are encouraged to explore the linked materials for a deeper understanding and more comprehensive analysis of the topics.

      231.6 KB
    • url icon
      Global Health Risk - Mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks URL
      Students must
      View

      Read "Summary" (page v), along with "2.6 Environmental risks" and "2.7 Occupational and other risks" (pages 23-27).

    • url icon
      Environmental/lifestyle factors in the pathogenesis and prevention of type 2 diabetes URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article.