By Joan Odafe

Some lifestyle medicine practitioners have called for a shift of focus from disease management to preventive care and vibrant living in order to reduce the number of people suffering from chronic diseases.

The experts proffered the solutions during the Opening Ceremony of the 6th Annual International Scientific Conference of the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg) on Friday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference, which will hold from Nov. 28 to Nov. 30, was with the theme, “Transforming Healthcare Systems in Africa: Sustainable Lifestyle Medicine Strategies”.

The President of SOLONg, Dr Moyosore Makinde, said that the theme was apt in addressing Africa’s healthcare landscape.

Makinde, a Consultant Family Physician, said that the continent’s health sector was overwhelmed by chronic diseases including hypertension, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and depressive disorders.

She said that unhealthy behaviours, which included poor nutrition, fiscal inactivity, sleep deprivation, substance abuse, unabated stress and toxic relationships, were causes of these conditions.

“The solution lies in lifestyle medicine.

“It is a transformative approach, which is poised to prevent, to treat, as well as reverse the chronic conditions that we see.

“Lifestyle medicine represents the future of healthcare, empowering individuals to reclaim their health and their well-being,” she said.

She urged institutions, particularly governments, institutional leaders, health maintenance organisations, among others, to integrate lifestyle medicine into school curriculum, and structured lifestyle intervention programmes.

“Teaching it even in primary schools, to universities and postgraduate colleges, ensuring a new generation of healthcare leaders are equipped to transform the landscape and improve health outcomes in Africa,” she said.

The President, World Lifestyle Medicine Organisation, Dr Ifeoma Monye, said that the surge in chronic lifestyle-related conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, was evident that traditional approaches to healthcare were no longer enough.

Monye, who is also a Consultant Family Physician, said that lifestyle medicine was not a new field, rather a revolution in the approach to health, well-being, prevention and management of chronic diseases.

She said that the application of the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, with the acronym ‘DREAMS’, were key strategies to a healthier, happier and longer life.

“Simply put, the DREAMS application represents our diet, relationships, exercise, avoidance of harmful substances, mental health and stress management, not forgetting regular medical check-ups,” she said.

Also, Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, said that enough knowledge of lifestyle medicine, the prevention of chronic diseases would be easier and effective for health practitioners.

Fabamwo was represented by the Directorate of Clinical Services and Training, LASUTH, Dr Lydia Aborishade.

He urged medical professionals to focus more on educating their patients on useful information about diet, exercise, stress management, healthy interactions, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman