Lifestyle medicine: The 'why', 'what' and 'how' of a developing discipline. 2019

Garry Egger
AM, MPH, PhD, FASLM, Board Member, Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM), Vic; Director, Centre for Health Promotion and Research, NSW; Adjunct Professor, Southern Cross University, NSW.@eggergj@ozemail.com.au @.

Changes in living conditions throughout history typically result in changes in the pattern of diseases. The modern post-industrial era has resulted in a shift from predominantly infectious to predominantly chronic diseases, or those with a significant lifestyle/environmental aetiology. This has led to the development of an adjunct discipline of lifestyle medicine. The aim of this article is to describe a basic structure for the discipline of lifestyle medicine as an introduction to other, more specific articles on the topic in this issue of Australian Journal of General Practice. There are currently four areas in which lifestyle medicine can add to the principles of conventional medicine. These are 1) the science (the epidemiology), 2) the art (the skills), 3) the materials (the tools) and 4) the procedures (the actions).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008019 Life Style Typical way of life or manner of living characteristic of an individual or group. (From APA, Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 8th ed) Lifestyle Factors,Life Style Induced Illness,Lifestyle,Factor, Lifestyle,Life Styles,Lifestyle Factor,Lifestyles
D008511 Medicine The art and science of studying, performing research on, preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease, as well as the maintenance of health. Insurance Medicine,Medical Specialities,Medical Specialties,Medical Specialty,Specialities, Medical,Specialties, Medical,Specialty, Medical,Insurance Medicines,Medical Speciality,Medicine, Insurance,Medicines, Insurance,Speciality, Medical
D009042 Motivation Those factors which cause an organism to behave or act in either a goal-seeking or satisfying manner. They may be influenced by physiological drives or by external stimuli. Incentives,Disincentives,Expectations,Disincentive,Expectation,Incentive,Motivations
D010379 Peer Group Group composed of associates of same species, approximately the same age, and usually of similar rank or social status. Group, Peer,Groups, Peer,Peer Groups
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D002983 Clinical Competence The capability to perform acceptably those duties directly related to patient care. Clinical Skills,Competence, Clinical,Clinical Competency,Clinical Skill,Competency, Clinical,Skill, Clinical,Skills, Clinical,Clinical Competencies,Competencies, Clinical
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000073278 Self-Management Individual's ability to manage the symptoms, treatment, physical and psychosocial consequences and lifestyle changes inherent in living with a chronic condition. Efficacious self-management encompasses ability to monitor one's condition and to affect the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional responses necessary to maintain a satisfactory quality of life. Self Management,Management, Self
D000079142 Shared Medical Appointments Clinical encounters in which patients receive healthcare from one or more health professionals, in a group setting. These may include patient education and counseling, physical examination, and clinical support. Patients usually share a mutual attribute such as a medical condition. Appointments, Shared Medical,Medical Appointment, Shared,Medical Appointments, Shared,Shared Medical Appointment
D012944 Social Support Support systems that provide assistance and encouragement to individuals with physical or emotional disabilities in order that they may better cope. Informal social support is usually provided by friends, relatives, or peers, while formal assistance such as COMMUNITY SUPPORT is provided by churches, groups, etc. Perceived Social Support,Social Care,Online Social Support,Care, Social,Online Social Supports,Perceived Social Supports,Social Support, Online,Social Support, Perceived,Social Supports, Online,Social Supports, Perceived,Support, Online Social,Support, Perceived Social,Support, Social,Supports, Perceived Social

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