Lifestyle Medicine and the Far Horizon: Before,Since,and Beyond

Abstract

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine was founded just over 20 years ago. As the organization grew, it incubated an impressive array of structures and processes to foster professional standards, training, credentialing, networking, and scholarship. A compelling and accelerating drumbeat of peer-reviewed publications has demonstrated the advancing base of evidence in which lifestyle medicine practice is rooted. Despite all this good effort, however, the indicators of population health that matter most—longevity and vitality and healthspan, years in life and life in years—have largely trended away from, rather than toward, aspirations. The life course of ACLM has introduced an area of great allure and tremendous promise to health professionals seeking beyond reactive disease care. The processes, structures, and knowledge are in place to advance the goals of vitality and longevity at the population level. Needed, still, are the means of translating that accumulated knowledge into the power of routine, and effective action. Those of us committed to the full potential of lifestyle both in and as medicine have promises yet to keep and miles to go before we sleep. We can, however, see the light on the horizon from here.