Lifestyle Medicine – What Is It?
Lifestyle Medicine is the use of evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic approaches – including a whole food, plant-predominant eating pattern, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connection – as a primary therapeutic modality, delivered by clinicians trained and certified in this specialty, to prevent, treat, and often reverse chronic disease – American College of Lifestyle Medicine
The focus of lifestyle medicine is more on treating the underlying determinants of chronic disease, the cause, rather than only treating the symptoms or biomarkers (eg. blood pressure, blood glucose). The lifestyle medicine approach does not preclude simultaneous use of conventional therapies although it often works so well that medications are no longer required. Lifestyle medicine is not just about avoiding or treating disease. It’s also about feeling well and having the energy and physical capacity to engage in activities that are personally meaningful – to truly thrive.
Lifestyle Medicine Approach
Services & Procedures
At Clinicare, Dr Malcolm Mackay, incorporates nutrition and lifestyle prescriptions into regular medical consultations. The lifestyle medicine approach is collaborative – what you change and how much you change is up to you – I’ll meet you where you are at and respect your choices.
Lifestyle medicine takes a team approach to patient care: the doctor, practice nurse, dietitian, exercise physiologist and other health practitioners all work together as a team which includes the patient. Our practice nurse can assist you in accessing Medicare funded allied health services.
A lifestyle medicine consultation includes a standard medical history, diet and lifestyle assessment and often a referral for a fasting blood test. A long consultation is required.
Conditions that respond well to nutrition and lifestyle include:
Obesity
High cholesterol
Diabetes and prediabetes
Hypertension
Heart disease
Arthritis pain
Gastrointestinal disorders
Lifestyle & Plant Based Nutrition Doctor
Who Does It?
Dr. Mackay is a GP and Lifestyle Medicine specialist. He is a Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician and a fellow of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. He has a Graduate Diploma in Human Nutrition. He has a special interest in preventing, treating, and reversing chronic disease with whole food, plant-based diet, and other lifestyle interventions.