The escalating burden of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) in China, particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), necessitates a shift from disease treatment to prevention. Lifestyle medicine, an evidence-based medical specialty utilizing therapeutic lifestyle interventions, offers a transformative approach to this health crisis. Fuwai Hospital’s pioneering Center for Lifestyle Medicine (CLM), the first of its kind in a Chinese public tertiary hospital, is at the forefront of this movement. CLM integrates comprehensive lifestyle interventions, fosters academic support, and builds a national alliance to promote the development and standardized management of lifestyle medicine across China. Despite challenges like the aging population and socioeconomic disparities, the future of lifestyle medicine in China is promising, particularly with the integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to promote health across all demographics.
LiuHYinPQiJZhouM. Burden of non-communicable diseases in China and its provinces, 1990-2021: results from the global burden of disease study 2021. Chin Med J. 2024;137(19):2325-2333. doi:10.1097/CM9.0000000000003270
National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases. The writing committee of the report on cardiovascular health and diseases in China N. Report on cardiovascular health and diseases in China 2023: an updated summary. Biomed Environ Sci. 2024;37(9):949-992. doi:10.3967/bes2024.162
4.
LiYWangDDLeySH, et al.Potential impact of time trend of life-style factors on cardiovascular disease burden in China. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016;68(8):818-833. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2016.06.011
5.
WuYBenjaminEJMacMahonS. Prevention and control of cardiovascular disease in the rapidly changing economy of China. Circulation. 2016;133(24):2545-2560. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.008728
6.
OuyangYWangHHeY, et al.Physical activity and sedentary behavior among Chinese adults - 10 PLADs, China, 2022-2023. China CDC Wkly. 2025;7(1):6-9. doi:10.46234/ccdcw2025.002
7.
ZhangMMaYXieX, et al.Trends in insufficient physical activity among adults in China 2010-18: a population-based study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2023;20(1):87. doi:10.1186/s12966-023-01470-w
8.
NanYXiZYangY, et al.The 2015 China adult tobacco survey: exposure to second-hand smoke among adults aged 15 and above and their support to policy on banning smoking in public places. Zhonghua Liuxingbingxue Zazhi. 2016;37(6):810-815. doi:10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-6450.2016.06.014
9.
LiQHsiaJYangG. Prevalence of smoking in China in 2010. N Engl J Med. 2011;364(25):2469-2470. doi:10.1056/NEJMc1102459
10.
The State Council of The People’s Republic of China. The communist party of China central committee and the State council issued the “Healthy China 2030” Blueprint. 2016. [In Chinese]. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202203/content_3635233.htm. Accessed 19 May 2025.
LiYPanAWangDD, et al.Impact of healthy lifestyle factors on life expectancies in the US population[published correction appears in Circulation. 2018 Jul 24;138(4):e75. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000587.]. Circulation. 2018;138(4):345-355. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.032047.
16.
LiuSStampferMHuF, et al.Whole-grain consumption and risk of coronary heart disease: results from the nurses’ health study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;70:412-419.
17.
ChiuveSEMcCulloughMLSacksFMRimmEB. Healthy lifestyle factors in the primary prevention of coronary heart disease among men: benefits among users and nonusers of lipid-lowering and antihypertensive medications. Circulation. 2006;114(2):160-167.
18.
LiYSchoufourJWangDD, et al.Healthy lifestyle and life expectancy free of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2020;368:l6669. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6669
19.
Lloyd-JonesDMAllenNBAndersonCAM, et al.Life's essential 8: updating and enhancing the American heart association's construct of cardiovascular health: a presidential advisory from the American heart association. Circulation. 2022;146(5):e18-e43. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001078
20.
CurranJ. The yellow emperor’s classic of internal medicine. BMJ. 2008;336(7647):777. doi:10.1136/bmj.39527.472303.4E
21.
Institute of Social DevelopmentNational DevelopmentReform Commission, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases Center for Lifestyle Medicine. Report on the Development of the Medical Industry of Healthy Lifestyle in China; 2023. [In Chinese].
22.
LiGZhangPWangJ, et al.The long-term effect of lifestyle interventions to prevent diabetes in the China Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study: a 20-year follow-up study. Lancet. 2008;371(9626):1783-1789. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60766-7
23.
KnowlerWCBarrett-ConnorEFowlerSE, et al.Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(6):393-403.
24.
BoSCicconeGBaldiC, et al.Effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention on metabolic syndrome. A randomized controlled trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2007;22(12):1695-1703. doi:10.1007/s11606-007-0399-6
25.
BassiNKaragodinIWangS, et al. Lifestyle modification for metabolic syndrome: a systematic review. Am J Med. 2014;127(12):1242.e1. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.06.035
26.
van NamenMPrendergastLPeirisC. Supervised lifestyle intervention for people with metabolic syndrome improves outcomes and reduces individual risk factors of metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Metabolism. 2019;101:153988. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2019.153988
27.
WangYFengLZengG, et al.Effects of cuisine-based Chinese heart-healthy diet in lowering blood pressure among adults in China: multicenter, single-blind, randomized, parallel controlled feeding trial. Circulation. 2022;146(4):303-315.
28.
ChenJ. Essential role of medicine and food homology in health and wellness. Chin Herb Med. 2023;15(3):347-348. doi:10.1016/j.chmed.2023.05.001
29.
WangLZhuXLiuHSunB. Medicine and food homology substances: a review of bioactive ingredients, pharmacological effects and applications. Food Chem. 2025;463(Pt 1):141111. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.141111
30.
The National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. Notice from the office of the national health commission on the issuance of the dietary guidance for adults with hyperlipidemia (2023 edition) and three other dietary guidance. [In Chinese]. https://www.nhc.gov.cn/sps/c100088/202301/f01895a06c5349ef999f25da833c166d.shtml. Published November 18, 2023. Accessed May 22, 2025.
31.
The National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. Notice from the office of the national health commission on the issuance of the dietary guidance for adults with hyperuricemia and gout (2024 edition) and three other dietary guidance. [In Chinese]. https://www.nhc.gov.cn/wjw/c100378/202402/afd5dda4bd6745fda10aad8d43a16369.shtml. Published February 7, 2024. Accessed 22 May 2025.
32.
WangXQPiYLChenPJ, et al.Traditional Chinese exercise for cardiovascular diseases: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Am Heart Assoc. 2016;5(3):e002562. doi:10.1161/JAHA.115.002562
33.
ChanAWKChairSYLeeDTF, et al.Tai Chi exercise is more effective than brisk walking in reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors among adults with hypertension: a randomised controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2018;88:44-52. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.08.009
34.
Salmoirago-BlotcherEWaynePMDunsigerS, et al.Tai Chi is a promising exercise option for patients with coronary heart disease declining cardiac rehabilitation. J Am Heart Assoc. 2017;6(10):e006603. doi:10.1161/JAHA.117.006603
35.
XiongXWangPLiSZhangYLiX. Effect of Baduanjin exercise for hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Maturitas. 2015;80(4):370-378. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.01.002
36.
ChenDMYuWCHungHFTsaiJCWuHYChiouAF. The effects of baduanjin exercise on fatigue and quality of life in patients with heart failure: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2018;17(5):456-466. doi:10.1177/1474515117744770
37.
Chinese Preventive Medicine Association; Branch of Heart Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Preventive Medicine Association; Chinese Diabetes Society. Chinese guideline on healthy lifestyle to prevent cardiometabolic diseases. Zhonghua Yufang Yixue Zazhi. 2020;54(3):256-277. doi:10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-9624.2020.03.006
ZhenZTangDWangXFengQ. The impact of digital technology on health inequality: evidence from China. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024;24(1):1531. doi:10.1186/s12913-024-12022-8
