Ma J, Rosas LG, Lv N., Am J Prev Med. pii: S0749-3797(15)00638-8. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.09.035. [Epub ahead of print], 2015 Dec 01
Abstract
Precision lifestyle medicine is fundamental to the success of efforts to prevent and control costly chronic conditions, improve the health of populations, and eliminate health disparities.Because lifestyle behaviors are responsible for the greatest proportion of death and disability in the U.S. and worldwide, it is imperative to transform traditional lifestyle intervention approaches.
Challenges to contemporary lifestyle interventions are related to a lack of precision in three domains: (1) successfully developing and implementing lifestyle interventions in diverse settings, (2) efficiently identifying individuals who will maximally benefit from intervention within those settings, and (3) effectively engaging and retaining the diversity of patient experience.
Availability of resources, existing expertise, and policies that support lifestyle interventions are a few of the factors that vary in communities, healthcare systems, and other settings.