Lifestyle Medicine: Overcoming Systemic and Cultural Barriers to Better, More Affordable Care

Am J Lifestyle Med. 2023 Mar 30;17(5):626-631. doi: 10.1177/15598276231166321. eCollection 2023 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

The 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine have strong scientific backing and plenty of supportive evidence to validate their integration into routine clinical practice. However, two barriers stand in the way of their widespread adoption: the system of healthcare and the culture of medicine. This article describes changes necessary to overcome these systemic and cultural obstacles and outlines steps necessary to achieve what traditional healthcare has so-far failed to deliver: higher quality, lower costs, and greater access to care.

Keywords: capitation; healthcare system; lifestyle medicine; medical culture; retail giants.

Publication types

  • Review