Q: What is lifestyle medicine?
A: Lifestyle medicine uses evidence-based changes in diet, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and behavior to treat and prevent chronic disease. It focuses on long-term health, not short-term weight loss.
Q: Is this different from bariatric medicine?
A: There is overlap. Both focus on non-surgical weight management. Lifestyle medicine places more emphasis on whole-person care, including nutrition quality, behavior change, and disease prevention alongside weight loss.
Q: Do I have to follow a specific diet?
A: No single diet is required. Providers often recommend whole-food, plant-forward nutrition patterns, but plans are personalized based on your health needs, preferences, and goals.
Q: Are medications part of treatment?
A: They can be. Some patients benefit from medications such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, especially when combined with lifestyle changes. Your provider will determine if this is appropriate.
Q: Can this help with conditions like diabetes or heart disease?
A: Yes. Lifestyle interventions are a core part of managing and, in some cases, improving or reversing chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
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