Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and a major contributor to the burden of disease worldwide, including Indonesia. The pattern of diseases in Indonesia has undergone become an epidemiological transition over the last two decades, mainly hypertension and diabetes. Smoking and obesity are two major risk factors for a whole range of NCDs, including hypertension, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Modifiable behaviors, such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and the harmful use of alcohol, all increase the risk of NCDs. The projected number of patients suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCD) in Indonesia is expected to reach about 92 million by 2024.
Unhealthy lifestyle habits that include poor nutrition, lack of exercise, stress, alcohol and substance abuse, smoking, lack of sleep and poor social connectivity are key factors in the pathogenesis of NCDs. However evidence suggests that 80% of these chronic diseases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty that uses lifestyle interventions as primary modality to prevent, treat and manae chronic disease. It has a unique approach to prevent, treat and reverse lifestyle related disease. The six pillars of lifestyle medicine—a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connection.
Lifestyle medicine applies medical, behavioral, motivational and environmental principals. Education plays the most important role to maintain self care and self management.
Lifestyle Medicine
Lifestyle medicine practitioner are those who will apply the lifestyle medicine pillars in to their best practice.
Indonesian Lifestyle Medicine Association