ACLM Insider Brief 2/20: A view of the political, industrial and economic environment of Lifestyle Medicine

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Lifestyle Medicine Insider

February 2020 | Seventh Edition

Lifestyle Medicine Insider , a periodic look into the political, industry and economic environment we face as Lifestyle Medicine pioneers.

Priority Areas - President Dexter Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH, FACLM:

ADVOCACY

ACLM representatives met with key Congress members and staff this past week in DC, highlighting the need for Lifestyle Medicine and food-as-medicine curricula in medical schools. Jennifer Trilk, PhD, FACSM, DipACLM, from the University of South Carolina Greenville, with second-year medical student Alex Teshon, and ACLM Board member Terri Stone, MD, FACP, met with: Finance Committee staff; Cong. Tom Rice (SC) staff; Cong. Jeff Duncan (SC) staff; Sen. Lindsay Graham (SC) staff; Sen. Tim Scott (SC) staff; Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI) staff; Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) staff; Cong. Jim McGovern (MA) staff; Cong. Tim Ryan (OH); House Rules Committee staff; and Cong. Will Timmons (SC).

In addition to joining the Primary Care Collaborative (mentioned in a previous edition), ACLM has formally partnered with the Population Health Alliance (PHA), the American College of Sports Medicine and a new consortium of exercise-is-medicine related groups called the Physical Activity Alliance. Together we are proactively looking for health policy and other synergies.

BIG PHARMA

Kaiser Health News reports that pharmaceutical companies contribute millions of dollars to U.S. Congress members—of both parties--to influence health care lawmaking and spending. Is yours on this list? http://bit.ly/2vFerDd

MEDICAL EDUCATION

Kudos to LM Trainee member Lakshman Mulpuri and his student-led, Plant Based Nutrition Group, for successfully integrating plant-based nutrition into the mandated curriculum for all 300 of Wayne State University’s M1 medical class. https://today.wayne.edu/medicine/news/2019/11/21/curriculum-initiative-is-rooted-in-wellness-34917

RESEARCH

Lifestyle changes are better than stents and coronary artery bypass surgery in preventing heart attacks and death. https://time.com/5766183/best-medical-treatment-lifestyle-changes/

The prevalence of adult obesity and severe obesity will continue to increase nationwide, with large disparities across states and demographic subgroups. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1909301

Exercise doesn’t just affect muscles and the cardiovascular system, but almost every part of the body, from the immune system to the brain to the energy systems within individual cells. https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/why-exercise-is-the-real-miracle-drug

New study provides the strongest evidence yet that lifestyle factors can positively impact not only Alzheimer's disease, but frontotemporal dementia as well. https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/08/health/dementia-lifestyle-changes-frontotemporal-wellness/index.html

Ultra-processed food is implicated as a culprit in chronic disease. https://www.docwirenews.com/home-page-editor-picks/ultra-processed-food-consumption-linked-to-increased-diabetes-risk/ and https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200106122009.htm

Case report on a plant-based dietary approach to stage 3 chronic kidney disease: https://casereports.bmj.com/content/12/12/e232080.full

HEALTH SYSTEMS

There are growing numbers of successful nutrition and lifestyle initiatives at health systems and hospitals across the country, including some that ACLM members are involved in: https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/clinical-care/how-hospitals-can-improve-patient-nutrition-and-promote-healthy-lifestyles

Lifestyle Medicine IN COMMUNITIES

Panera Bread plans to have at least one plant-based option in each of its six menu categories. https://www.today.com/food/panera-planning-major-menu-overhaul-next-year-t171783

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