Blue Zones, an organization that studies areas around the world where people live longer and happier lives, has partnered with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) to help train and certify health care professionals.
Blue Zone Certification for physicians and healthcare professionals will add another layer to ACLM certification, which already provides lifestyle medicine training around six pillars: whole-food, plant-rich diet; exercise, sleep; stress management; social relationships; and avoiding substance abuse. New designations will require prior certification from ACLM, the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM), or the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM). Announcement on May 14.
“ACLM and Blue Zones share a vision of building healthier, stronger, and more resilient communities,” said ACLM Executive Director Susan Benigas.
Venegas said this is only possible if “physicians and medical professionals in these communities are trained in evidence-based lifestyle medicine clinical interventions and truly understand the principles of blue zones.”
Blue Zones CEO Ben Leedle said: “Blue Zones has been at the forefront of creating meaningful improvements in population well-being, resulting in healthier, happier communities and millions of dollars in healthcare savings, increased productivity and regional economic impact. .
“At the same time, ACLM has been advancing the field of lifestyle medicine for the past 20 years, working to transform health care from within hospitals and clinics,” Leedle said in a statement. “This partnership represents a A paradigm shift that combines the power of lifestyle medicine with community-driven improvements in well-being. ”
Kerry Graff, MD, a lifestyle medicine physician and medical director of the Lifestyle Medicine Institute in Rochester, New York, said she was “thrilled” to learn about the ACLM and Blue Zones partnership and plans to be one of the first physicians to apply to obtain a new certification.
“It’s a very powerful combination,” Graf said. “I think that’s really what needs to happen next. [lifestyle medicine] forward.
Doctors are often stymied by knowing what will make their patients healthier, Graf said, but they are dealing with a community in which factors conspire to promote bad habits rather than healthy ones.
“It certainly makes more sense to look at this issue at a broader level, at a community level, rather than just at an individual patient level,” she said.
Research has long shown that lifestyle choices can have a positive impact on long-term health and disease prevention. For example, a recent analysis found that while genetic risk was associated with a 21% increased risk of death, “unfavorable lifestyle” was associated with a 78% increased risk of death regardless of genetic factors.
A “good lifestyle” based on sleep, diet and physical activity can offset up to 62% of genetic predispositions. The study found.
Michelle Tollefson, MD, a Colorado-based lifestyle medicine physician and lead instructor at Blue Zones Training, said the newly certified curriculum is still in development but is expected to launch in 2025.
“This course will build on what our ACLM, ABLM, IBLM physicians and health professionals already know and bring to their patients,” Tollefson said. “They already have that foundation, but then we add a layer of blue zone research and deep community focus that will allow our lifestyle medicine physicians and health professionals to generate greater impact in the community outside of the clinical setting. Widespread impact.
In addition to the new certification opportunity, Blue Zones will now become an exclusive founding partner of the ACLM Center for Lifestyle Medicine Innovation, a new center ACLM is establishing for research, innovation, thought leadership and knowledge sharing.
ACLM will leverage the College’s clinical practice tools and health system resources to provide practice advancement consulting to health systems integrating lifestyle medicine in blue zone communities. Since 2021, 108 health systems have joined ACLM health system committeeAccording to ACLM, the organization is comprised of innovative health organizations from 37 states dedicated to delivering high-value care through lifestyle medicine.
Physicians and health professionals interested in lifestyle medicine certification can learn more ACLM website. Since 2017, the college has certified approximately 6,700 clinicians, including 5,000 physicians and 1,700 health professionals.
