Textbook of Lifestyle Medicine

The Textbook of Lifestyle Medicine by the respected biomedical scientists Labros Sidossis and Stephanos N. Kales has been long awaited and is most welcome. New knowledge has confirmed the wisdom of the third branch of Hippocratic Medicine, Dietetics (Diet =way of life) and has revealed the biological basis of ancient promptings for a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle Medicine is a colossal service of Medicine to Mankind, helping with the prevention and treatment of most of the chronic non-communicable diseases, including anxiety, depression, psychosomatic disorders, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune disorders, osteoporosis, and cancer. The Textbook of Lifestyle Medicine provides a timely great introduction and a systematic guide toward this goal. It represents a major step forward. It is well written, comprehensive, and promoting key aspects of a healthy lifestyle. It will be useful to health care professionals at all stages of their careers, as well as to the public at large. I recommend it enthusiastically and predict many future editions. George P. Chrousos, MD, MACP, MACE, FRCP Professor of Pediatrics and Endocrinology Emeritus, Holder, UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, Distinguished Investigator Emeritus, NICHD, NIH   The Textbook of Lifestyle Medicine by Dr. Kales and Sidossis is an excellent resource for those who want to teach a course focused on the Mediterranean Lifestyle. The key points, take home messages, and self-assessment questions are useful tools for students and teachers. The textbook includes information about the six pillars of lifestyle medicine including exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, social connections, and avoidance of risky substances. In addition. there are case studies that review patient experiences and successes with a focus on lifestyle as medicine. Elizabeth Pegg Frates, MD President-Elect American College of Lifestyle Medicine   The book Lifestyle Medicine by Sidossis and Kales is a “must-have” for anyone who is interested in the role of lifestyle as a determinant of health and wellbeing. The book is wonderfully well written, with a very careful language and aesthetic. One of the most interesting and remarkable aspects is the holistic approach to health and its determinants throughout the book. The authors describe the multi-dimensional nature of lifestyle and explains the importance of each dimension as a determinant of health. The fourth unit is a very valuable tool for professionals who want to apply the principles of the Mediterranean lifestyle to their patients, since each chapter may be used as a guide for a complete assessment of those metabolic diseases and for the promotion of a multidimensional change towards the adoption of a healthier lifestyle. This book is a magnificent work in which Public Health students, medical professionals and public will find the keys to understanding the precepts of lifestyle medicine and the benefits of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Miguel A. Martínez-González, MD, PhD, MPH Adjunct Professor, Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health Professor & Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain Steering Committee of PREDIMED   As the authors state “even small changes toward healthier lifestyle choices can translate into substantial health benefits”. They then go on to provide the knowledge, evidence, and tools to achieve this aim. The pillars of lifestyle medicine are usefully interwoven throughout the textbook while evidenced key points, practical tips and tools all provide the reader with the ‘ammunition’ to help their patients onto a health trajectory which is relevant to them. A fascinating read and especially so around the traditional Mediterranean diet and lifestyle. Dr Rob Lawson FRCGP, Dip BSLM/IBLM Chair British Society of Lifestyle Medicine President European Lifestyle Medicine Council Chair World Lifestyle Medicine Council