The root causes of two in every five deaths can be traced to lifestyle behaviours. Lifestyle medicine (or “therapeutic lifestyle change”) is the recognition that modifiable lifestyle factors (e.g., unhealthy diet, poor ability to cope with stress) are major contributors to the development of chronic illness, and has always been a primary element in the practice of naturopathic medicine. The goal of therapeutic lifestyle change is to create a lifestyle that results in reversal of illness symptoms, and prevention of future disease.
Naturopathic doctors are the most rigorously trained primary healthcare providers providing lifestyle medicine, the value of which is now becoming recognized by the most progressive of conventional healthcare institutions (e.g., Cleveland Clinic, Harvard Medical School). At Toronto-Centre Naturopathic Medicine, lifestyle medicine is incorporated in every patient’s treatment plan.
Lifestyle medicine is a process, in which lifestyle factors contributing to illness are identified, health goals are created, obstacles to achieving health goals are identified, tools for smooth integration of lifestyle change into your existing routine are taught, motivational tools are developed, and over time progress towards goals is monitored until goals are achieved (and importantly, maintained).
The value of lifestyle counseling (compared to simply being instructed to make a lifestyle change without professional direction and coaching) in effecting successful lifestyle change has also been documented in research studies. A 2010 study demonstrated that persons with high blood pressure who participated in regular follow-up appointments normalized their blood pressure, on average, 15 times more quickly than patients who had rare follow-up appointments. A 2010 scientific statement from the American Heart Association confirms that goal-setting and establishing a plan for follow-up are among the most important components of successful and durable lifestyle interventions.
Lifestyle medicine programs (not including cost of nutritional supplements) provided at Toronto-Centre Naturopathic Medicine are covered by most extended healthcare plans.