Abstract Body

Background

We live in an era when chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Four most prominent chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and type 2 diabetes, are linked with unhealthy lifestyle. The best way to control and lower the burden of chronic diseases is to focus on controlling the risk factors and focus on lifestyle change interventions. Lifestyle change interventions are the first line of health promotion and disease prevention activities in primary health care. Lifestyle medicine (LM) is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention used as primary modality to prevent and treat chronic disease.

Aim and learning objectives

1. To familiarise family doctors with lifestyle medicine concepts

2. To show what are basic skills (competencies) needed to practice lifestyle medicine

3. To identify what challenges family doctors might face in implementing LM in their practice

4. Provide family doctors with the resources to continue to improve their knowledge in practice.

Methods and timetable

After a short introduction regarding the definition of lifestyle medicine, basic skills needed and challenges participants will be divided into groups to debate through examples how to give lifestyle prescription to improve health in six areas (nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep, substance use and relationships)

(Proposed) Results/Conclusion

After this workshop participants will have basic knowledge of lifestyle medicine and how to incorporate such interventions into their daily practice.