Lifestyle Medicine: A Game Changer for Healthcare and Beyond

By Laurel Pickering , President & CEO St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition & Midwest Health Initiative. Former President & CEO of Northeast Business Group on Health (NEBGH) for over 20 years, focusing on improving healthcare delivery and providing employers with tools to manage their health benefits effectively. Most recently, she has focused her career on innovation, working for the digital health company Welldoc, which uses technology to manage chronic conditions, and Centivo, an alternative health plan focused on primary care and affordability.

In today’s healthcare landscape, chronic diseases are the dominant drivers of cost, frustration, and inefficiency. Lifestyle Medicine offers a revolutionary approach by addressing the root causes of chronic conditions through evidence-based, non-invasive interventions.

With the potential to prevent or reverse up to 80% of chronic diseases, Lifestyle Medicine aligns perfectly with the goals of reducing costs, improving patient outcomes, and creating a healthier future for all.

Lifestyle Medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on six foundational pillars to improve and sustain health:

• Nutrition: A whole-food, plant-predominant diet.
• Physical Activity: Regular, consistent exercise.
• Stress Management: Practices like mindfulness and relaxation techniques.
• Restorative Sleep: Prioritizing 7–9 hours of quality sleep.
• Social Connection: Strengthening meaningful relationships.
• Avoidance of Risky Substances: Reducing or eliminating harmful substances.

By addressing these lifestyle factors, Lifestyle Medicine targets chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders.

Chronic diseases account for the majority of healthcare costs, with MSK conditions alone costing employers billions annually in lost productivity and healthcare expenses. Lifestyle Medicine provides a proactive, preventive solution that offers benefits for all stakeholders:

For Employers:

1. Boost Productivity: Healthier employees mean fewer sick days and higher morale.
2. Lower Healthcare Costs: Lifestyle Medicine reduces the need for expensive interventions like surgeries or long-term medication.
3. Attract and Retain Talent: Offering innovative wellness programs demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being.

For Payors:

1. Cut Claims Costs: Lifestyle Medicine interventions reduce the prevalence of high-cost chronic conditions.
2. Support Value-Based Care: Prevention-focused care aligns with population health strategies.

For Benefits Professionals, Brokers, and Consultants:

1. Differentiate Your Offerings: Lifestyle Medicine programs set you apart in a competitive market.
2. Deliver Measurable ROI: Wellness programs grounded in Lifestyle Medicine principles yield clear financial and health outcomes.

Primary care physicians (PCPs) have an opportunity to be leaders in lifestyle medicine with their patients.

By recommending lifestyle changes as the first defense and treatment for chronic illnesses, primary care practices can get patients on the right path toward better health, often eliminating the need for medications and other treatments.

Primary care physicians are not trained in medical school to deliver lifestyle medicine, but there is a board certification available through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. This focus on whole-person health benefits both clinicians and patients.

Musculoskeletal disorders are a significant cost driver and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Lifestyle Medicine principles can be seamlessly integrated into MSK care:

• Physical Activity: Tailored exercises improve mobility and reduce pain.
• Nutrition: Anti-inflammatory diets alleviate joint discomfort.
• Stress Management: Reducing stress helps manage chronic MSK pain.

Examples:

Apos? Apos is precision medicine for MSK pain. It is a targeted approach that combines a personalized footworn medical device with a treatment plan that exemplifies Lifestyle Medicine principles.

It addresses chronic MSK conditions like knee and back pain, helping patients to be more active, exercise, and less pain can also lead to better mental health and avoid invasive surgeries and costly treatments. With over 150,000 patients treated globally, Apos is a clear example of how innovative, non-invasive solutions can drive better outcomes and reduce costs.

Corporate Wellness Programs:

• Employers integrating Lifestyle Medicine principles report significant improvements in employee health and satisfaction.
• Example: Diabetes prevention programs using lifestyle interventions reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes by 58%.

Community Initiatives:

Addressing social determinants of health—such as access to nutritious food and safe exercise spaces—improves population health and equity.

MSK-Specific Innovations:

Solutions like Apos and fitness incentives tailored for MSK health improve mobility, reduce absenteeism, and enhance quality of life.

Lifestyle Medicine isn’t just about treating chronic disease—it’s about transforming healthcare into a value-based, equitable, and sustainable system. Whether you’re a physician, employer, payor, broker, or consultant, integrating Lifestyle Medicine principles can help you lead this change.

• For Primary Care Physicians: Become board-certified in lifestyle medicine for your own job satisfaction and benefit to patients.
• For Employers: Commit to wellness programs that improve productivity and reduce costs.
• For Payors: Invest in prevention-focused initiatives to lower claims.
• For Benefits Experts: Recommend innovative Lifestyle Medicine solutions to differentiate your offerings.

The future of healthcare isn’t just about treating illness—it’s about creating a culture of health. By embracing Lifestyle Medicine, we can improve lives, cut costs, and build a healthier, more productive society. Let’s lead the charge.

The newsletter is brought to you by AposHealth’s flagship solution Apos?.

Over 150,000 people have already reclaimed their freedom?with Apos?, enjoying a better life, while simultaneously reducing healthcare costs for themselves, insurance companies, and employers.

Learn more at www.aposhealth.com

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