Alliance will combine proven, powerful efforts inside and
outside hospital and clinic walls to ignite health transformation
and reduce the epidemic of chronic disease.
ST.
LOUIS, May 14, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Blue
Zones and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) have
announced a global impact partnership to address the health crisis
of rising chronic disease rates and rising healthcare-related
costs. Blue Zones, the global leader in longevity research and
well-being solutions, and ACLM, the leading organization for
promoting lifestyle medicine as a first-line treatment for chronic
disease, will combine their strengths to disrupt the healthcare
status quo and shift the focus from treating symptoms and managing
disease to the prevention, treatment and reversal of chronic
disease through evidence-based lifestyle intervention.
"It is clear that the traditional
healthcare model of simply prescribing costly, ever-increasing
quantities of pharmaceuticals and procedures with risky side
effects is broken, and we need new innovative approaches."
The partnership brings together Blue Zones' evidence-based
roadmap to living a better, longer life through their
identification and research of the world's longest-lived,
healthiest and happiest cultures in the blue zones regions with
ACLM's expertise in lifestyle medicine, a proven treatment approach
that utilizes therapeutic lifestyle changes such as whole-food,
plant-predominant eating pattern, regular physical activity,
restorative sleep, stress management, positive social connection,
and the avoidance of risky substances.
"We are thrilled to partner with the American College of
Lifestyle Medicine through a shared vision of creating healthier
and stronger communities nationwide," said Ben Leedle, CEO of Blue Zones and Co-founder of
Blue Zones Project. "At Blue Zones, we have been at the forefront
of creating meaningful population-level well-being improvement
outside hospital and clinic walls, resulting in healthier, happier
communities and sustainable gains in per capita overall well-being,
which has driven millions in healthcare savings, improved
productivity, and regional economic impact. Meanwhile, ACLM has
been driving the field of lifestyle medicine forward for the past
two decades, working to transform healthcare from within hospital
and clinic walls. This partnership represents a paradigm shift by
combining the power of lifestyle medicine with community driven
well-being improvement."
Blue Zones and ACLM share a commitment to address the
unsustainable trajectory of chronic disease and its associated
costs, both domestically and internationally. More than 60% of
American adults—and a growing number of children—have already been
diagnosed with at least one chronic disease, and 90% of the
nation's staggering $4.7 trillion in
annual healthcare spending can be attributed to costs related to
chronic diseases and mental health conditions. Globally,
cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and
diabetes account for over 80% of premature deaths.
Together, ACLM and Blue Zones will establish a new clinician
certification status of "Blue Zones-Certified Physician" or "Blue
Zones-Certified Healthcare Professional." Earning the new
designation will be available exclusively to clinicians who are
already trained in the growing field of lifestyle medicine and
certified to practice in the U.S. by either the American Board of
Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM), the certification body for physicians,
or ACLM, the certification body for eligible non-physicians.
Outside the U.S., the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine
(IBLM) is the certification body. Since the inaugural certification
exam in 2017, nearly 6,700 clinicians—more than 5,000 physicians
and 1,700 health professionals—have become certified in lifestyle
medicine. These clinicians will become eligible to pursue the
additional Blue Zones designations starting in early 2025.
Physicians and other health professionals interested in learning
more about earning certification to practice lifestyle medicine,
the prerequisite to the upcoming Blue Zones-certified physician and
healthcare professional recognition, may register their interest
here and begin meeting their prerequisites.
"It is clear that the traditional healthcare model of simply
prescribing costly, ever-increasing quantities of pharmaceuticals
and procedures with risky side effects is broken, and we need new
innovative approaches," said ACLM President Beth Frates, MD, FACLM, DipABLM, who also serves
as associate professor, part time, at Harvard
Medical School. "Lifestyle medicine-certified clinicians are
educated and trained to treat the root causes of common chronic
diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity, with
intensive lifestyle interventions when appropriate, for a clinical
outcome goal of health restoration as opposed to disease
management. With Blue Zones' global reach and brand recognition,
those who earn Blue Zones certification will stand out as
clinicians with the education and training to provide patients with
the whole-person, evidence-based care they want and deserve."
In addition to creating the new certification opportunity, Blue
Zones will be recognized as the exclusive founding partner of
ACLM's Center for Lifestyle Medicine Innovation (CLMI), a hub for
research, innovation, thought leadership and knowledge sharing.
Individuals and organizations interested in joining ACLM and Blue
Zones in advancing research that is focused on identifying and
eradicating the root causes of disease are invited to learn more
here.
"Lifestyle medicine is the prescription with only positive side
effects," said Blue Zones Chief Medical Officer, CLMI President,
and ACLM Past President Dexter
Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM. "It's the medicine
that we must make available to one and all in order to create
sustainable health and healthcare, as well as a sustainable world.
The new Center—emerging from ACLM's research, innovation and
practice advancement efforts and building on the work of the Blue
Zones Institute—will be keenly focused on innovative research and
demonstration projects, the outcomes of which will serve to further
solidify the urgency of a lifestyle medicine-first approach to all
healthcare."
As part of the partnership, ACLM is offering practice
advancement consultative support to health systems integrating
lifestyle medicine in Blue Zones communities, leveraging ACLM's
extensive patient-facing and clinical practice tools and health
systems resources. Since its 2021 inception, 109 health systems
have joined ACLM's Health System Council(HSC), comprised of
innovative health organizations from nearly 40 states dedicated to
providing high-value care through lifestyle medicine.
"ACLM Past President Dr. David
Katz often says, 'Lifestyle is by far the best medicine, and
culture is the spoon,' casting a vision of a nation and world
wherein all clinicians are lifestyle medicine-trained, delivering
care in communities in which the healthy choice is the easy
choice," said ACLM Executive Director Susan
Benigas. "ACLM and Blue Zones share this vision and are at
the forefront of championing it. We're dedicated to equipping and
empowering clinicians to play an integral role in transforming the
health of their respective communities. Each physician and primary
care provider who becomes trained in lifestyle medicine and Blue
Zones principles has exponential impact, as each touches hundreds,
if not thousands, of lives. The ripple effect is already igniting
the disruptive transformation our healthcare system so desperately
needs."
"This new partnership between Blue Zones and the American
College of Lifestyle Medicine is a monumental leap forward in
preventive health," said Wayne
Dysinger, MD, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM, ACLM past president and
chief medical officer at Healthly. "Imagine--years of
groundbreaking research and practice by Blue Zones, unlocking the
secrets to long life and applying them to communities meets the
clinical approach of ACLM, empowering lifestyle medicine at the
hospital, clinic, and individual levels. For those of us that have
been promoting preventive health and lifestyle medicine, this isn't
just about individual lives – it's about a healthier society, a
lighter burden on healthcare systems, and a world where improved
well-being is the norm. We're on the verge of a revolution – a
shift from simply patching up illness to actively building a future
brimming with vibrant health. That's the exciting reality this
partnership promises."
Supporting quotes
Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS,
the 17th Surgeon General of the United
States and distinguished laureate professor at the
University of Arizona, said "I applaud
the innovative partnership between the American College of
Lifestyle Medicine and Blue Zones as it creates precisely the
synergy between the medical profession and the communities in which
they practice that is sorely needed to truly alter the
unsustainable trajectory of chronic disease and associated
spending. Physicians and other medical professionals trained and
certified to practice lifestyle medicine are the final missing
piece in Blue Zones' incredible track record of success
transforming communities, so people live longer and better."
Anand Parekh, MD, chief medical
advisor of the Bipartisan Policy Center, said "In my book,
Prevention First: Policymaking for a Healthier America, I emphasize
the need to mobilize the entire community ecosystem to take
proactive steps in both preventing disease and promoting health.
This convergence of Blue Zones and the American College of
Lifestyle Medicine represents an ecosystem approach unlike any
other. This starts with our physicians and medical professionals
being trained in both lifestyle medicine—which includes prescribing
food as medicine—and Blue Zones principles. This isn't a red issue
or blue issue. ACLM and Blue Zones' goal is to educate and empower
all people to take far greater control of their health destinies,
with a keen focus on addressing lifestyle-related chronic disease
health disparities."
Kate Goodrich, MD, Chief Medical
Officer at Humana, said "I have been thrilled with Humana's
partnership with the ACLM to provide accessible lifestyle medicine
training for all of Humana and Centerwell's employed healthcare
professionals and our network clinicians. This whole-person
approach to care empowers and enables our clinicians to invest in
the patient relationship and moves us from an acute, episodic sick
care model of care to true care for health and longitudinal
maintenance of holistic wellbeing, ultimately delivering on better
health outcomes, quality of life, and longevity. I know this new
partnership between ACLM and Blue Zones will elevate our
clinicians' training even further and advance the evidence base on
best practices – which is vital in helping shape the future of
healthcare."
Amanda Pears Kelly, Executive
Director of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved
(ACU), said "This partnership is a powerful response to the health
inequities that health center patients and so many others in
underserved communities face every day. Chronic diseases
disproportionately impact medically underserved communities, and we
need innovative approaches and training to support our clinicians
in addressing them. As a strategic partner of ACLM, we're heartened
to see them partner with Blue Zones to help improve our healthcare
workforce's readiness to combine lifestyle medicine with
evidence-based population health initiatives to achieve true
community transformation."
Ann Greiner, President and CEO of
the Primary Care Collaborative, said "The promise of this
partnership is Americans having easier access to comprehensive,
team-based care that's focused on what really matters: keeping
people healthy. We're excited to see how the initiative evolves and
look forward to exploring what the primary care community can learn
from this exciting partnership."
Betsy Price, mayor from 2011 to
2021 of Fort Worth, Texas, a Blue
Zones-certified community, said "As a steadfast champion for
community health and well-being, I am thrilled to see the
partnership between Blue Zones and the American College of
Lifestyle Medicine. By merging Blue Zones' longevity research with
the evidence-based practices of lifestyle medicine, we're laying
the foundation for a future where well-being flourishes in our
communities and individuals are empowered to live their healthiest,
happiest lives. A community where residents have more life in their
years not just years in their life!"
Amy Mechley, MD, FACLM, DipABLM,
FAAFP, board chair of the American and International Boards of
Lifestyle Medicine, said "This alliance between the Blue Zones,
ACLM, and the American and International Boards of Lifestyle
Medicine is groundbreaking. Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance
medical professional associations around the world will have the
capability to tap into the power and infrastructure created by this
partnership. Collectively, we will be able to reach beyond current
barriers and succeed in supporting wellbeing for all human beings,
regardless of geographic area, age, gender, family of origin, or
culture."
About Blue Zones®
Blue Zones employs evidence-based ways to help people live better,
longer. The company's work is rooted in explorations and research
done by founder and National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner in blue
zones regions around the world, where people live extraordinarily
long and/or happy lives. The original research and findings were
released in Buettner's bestselling books The Blue Zones Solution,
The Blue Zones of Happiness, The Blue Zones, Thrive, and Blue Zones
Kitchen—all published by National Geographic books. A hit
docuseries, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, was released on
Netflix in 2023. Using original Blue Zones research, Blue Zones
works with cities and counties to make healthy choices easier
through permanent and semi-permanent changes to our human-made
surroundings. Participating communities have experienced
double-digit drops in obesity and tobacco use and have saved
millions of dollars in healthcare costs.
About ACLM®
Serving as a transformation catalyst, disruptor of the status quo,
and a galvanized force for change, the American College of
Lifestyle Medicine is the nation's medical professional society
advancing the field of lifestyle medicine as the foundation of a
redesigned, value-based and equitable healthcare delivery system,
essential to achieving the Quintuple Aim and whole person health.
ACLM represents, advocates for, trains, certifies, and equips its
members to identify and eradicate the root cause of chronic disease
by optimizing modifiable risk factors. ACLM is filling the gaping
void of lifestyle medicine—including food as medicine—in medical
education, doing so across the entire medical education continuum,
while also advancing research, clinical practice and reimbursement
strategies. Adding years to lives and life to years, while reining
in the alarming, unsustainable trajectory of healthcare spending,
is what lifestyle medicine delivers.
Media Contact
Alex Branch, Director of
Communications, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, American
College of Lifestyle Medicine, 817-307-2399,
abranch@lifestylemedicine.org, American College of Lifestyle
Medicine
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/blue-zones-and-american-college-of-lifestyle-medicine-create-partnership-to-accelerate-a-lifestyle-first-approach-to-all-healthcare-302144675.html
SOURCE American College of Lifestyle Medicine