Hail Lifestyle Medicine consensus position statement as a medical specialty: Middle Eastern perspective

Out of 815 members in the national Lifestyle Medicine (LM) group, 136 responses were received, while 679 members abstained from voting, indicating neutrality. Among the 136 votes, 36 supported retaining the LM pillars developed by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine AMCL and its partners without modifications. In contrast, 118 voted in favor of the newly developed MENA/Saudi Arabian pillars, acknowledging the need to address local healthcare needs that extend beyond traditional or classical medicine. The new pillars incorporated motor vehicle driving disturbances as a leading modifiable lifestyle factor contributing to death and disability in the region. Additionally, the impact of smart technology, particularly mobile phones and other devices, was recognized as a key contributor to motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), which significantly increase mortality and disability rates. Further, the new pillars emphasized emotional and mental health, spirituality, and sexuality, driven by the growing demand for comprehensive mental and emotional healthcare combined with faith-based and spiritual empowerment. Finaly, the inclusion of sexuality as a pillar was prompted by rapid societal changes, the rising prevalence of risky sexual behaviors, and the increased incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These challenges, coupled with the ambiguity surrounding who should manage such patients and the need for timely access to care, highlighted amajor gap in addressing this critical aspect of human health and quality of life. This addition ensures that LM physicians can provide appropriate care to close the gap in services related to sexual health.