The significance of lifestyle medicine core competencies in healthcare

Chronic diseases related to unhealthy lifestyle habits represent a major public health problem, in both developed and developing countries. The most leading cause of death worldwide, cardiovascular disease, is strongly associated with tobacco use, sedentarism, high-fat, and processed foods intake. Ameliorating symptoms and treating complications of diseases are not permanent solutions for rapidly or slowly progressing chronic conditions. Treating the root causes of non-communicable diseases (NCD) by addressing modifiable risk factors such as lifestyle choices is the future of an innovative and sustainable medical system. Developed by international experts in the field of Lifestyle Medicine (LM), the core competencies of LM serve as essential tools in clinical practice. The LM skills expand from introducing the physician and patient to the concept of LM to offering them guidance and evidence-based strategies for implementing the six pillars of LM. These core competencies were designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of LM, provide clinicians guidance, and emphasize the current knowledge and skills needed for high-quality lifestyle preventive and therapeutic interventions in clinical care.