Here's the American College Of Lifestyle Medicine

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine is an organization dedicated to promoting the use of lifestyle interventions as a means of improving health outcomes. They advocate for the adoption of healthy behaviors such as physical activity, healthy eating, stress management, and social support as a way to prevent and treat chronic diseases. The organization also provides education and training for healthcare professionals to incorporate lifestyle medicine into their practice. By prioritizing lifestyle interventions, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine hopes to shift the focus of healthcare from disease treatment to disease prevention.

“For the treatment, reversal and prevention of lifestyle-related chronic disease, the ACLM recommends an eating plan based predominantly on a variety of minimally processed vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.”

ACLM’s Diet-climate Statement:

ACLM recognizes that the primary culprit behind both chronic illnesses and pressing global sustainability concerns is our Western-style diet. Switching to a diet that emphasizes whole, plant-based foods is the most beneficial approach for safeguarding human health, preventing disease, and promoting environmental sustainability. Such a dietary pattern is the ideal way to conserve our natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide adequate nourishment for the rapidly increasing global population.

ACLM’s Obesity Statement:

Clinical guidelines for chronic diseases, such as obesity and being overweight, suggest lifestyle changes as a primary form of treatment. It is essential to approach patients with compassion and utilize evidence-based methods to restore their health. By following the six lifestyle pillars outlined by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, including regular exercise, plant-based diets, sleep, stress management, healthy social connections, and avoiding risky substances, the goal of health restoration can be achieved. It is also important to consider each patient's unique environment and genetic makeup, as these can promote or exacerbate weight gain. While lifestyle interventions can lead to success, obesity is a complex disease that may require additional forms of treatment. However, these interventions are often administered inadequately, resulting in less success. Lifestyle medicine practitioners are trained to provide a therapeutic dose of all six pillars, and evidence supports their effectiveness in addressing the underlying causes of disease, such as gut dysbiosis, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation.

A lifestyle medicine approach can play a significant role in preventing chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. It can also lower the chances of developing various types of cancer. Therefore, it's crucial that lifestyle medicine is incorporated as a core aspect of treatment, whether or not surgery or medication is involved. For both adult and pediatric overweight and obesity cases, ACLM is available to assist clinicians and patients as a valuable resource.