We thank Arena et al. [Citation1] for making a case in the journal, for Lifestyle Medicine (LM) as an associated profession. However, they appear to have overlooked an entire, well-established medical discipline with professional colleges and societies all around the world, in formal existence for well over a decade.
In Australia, our association was inaugurated in 2008 (www.lifestylemedicine.org.au). We have a postgraduate master’s program in LM (http://courses.scu.edu.au/units/cmm03254-introduction-to-lifestyle-medicine/2014) with over 400 graduates in many of the topics proposed, several published articles about the topic in international journals [Citation2–Citation5], have had national conferences now for 6 years, and an International conference planned for 2016 (www.lifestylemedicine.org.au/conference).
The US has a formal College of Lifestyle Medicine (http://www.lifestylemedicine.org/) in existence for well over a decade. Associated is a journal [Citation6], Continuing Medical Education programs, an annual conference attracting hundreds from around the world, numerous publications (some examples included [Citation7–Citation10]), and credentialing programs. Physician competencies in LM were elucidated in The Journal of the American Medical Association >5 years ago [Citation11]. There is also now a Global Lifestyle Medicine Affiliation incorporating many national bodies http://www.lifestylemedicine.org/Were-Global.
None of the products of these groups have been cited or noted by Arena et al. [Citation1]. While it is a shame that the reviewers have not picked up on this, we would welcome your correspondents into the fold. It would undoubtedly be counterproductive, however, if parallel efforts are undertaken without awareness of existing work to date.
Financial and competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
References
- Arena R. Who will deliver comprehensive healthy lifestyle interventions to combat non-communicable disease? Introducing the healthy lifestyle practitioner discipline. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2015;13:1–8.
- Egger G, Binns A, Rossner S, editors. Lifestyle medicine: managing disease of lifestyle in the 21st century. 2nd ed. Sydney: McGraw-Hill; 2011.
- Sagner M, Katz D, Egger G, et al. Lifestyle medicine potential for reversing a world of chronic disease epidemics: from cell to community. Int J Clin Prac. 2014. doi:10.1111/ijcp.12509.
- Egger G, Katz D, Sagner M, et al. The art and science of chronic disease management come together in a lifestyle-focused approach to primary care. Int J Clin Prac. 2014;68(12):1406–1409.
- Hayes C, Naylor R, Egger G. Understanding chronic pain in a lifestyle context: the emergence of a whole person approach. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2012;6(5):421–428.
- American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.
- Katz DL. Lifestyle is medicine. Virtual Mentor. 2013;15(4):286–292. doi:10.1001/virtualmentor.2013.15.4.ecas1-1304. PubMed PMID: 23566776.
- Phillips E, Pojednic R, Polak R, et al. Including lifestyle medicine in undergraduate medical curricula. Med Educ Online. 2015;20:26150. doi:10.3402/meo.v20.26150. eCollection 2015. PubMed PMID: 25652118; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4317469.
- Minich DM, Bland JS. Personalized lifestyle medicine: relevance for nutrition and lifestyle recommendations. ScientificWorldJournal. 2013;2013:129841. doi:10.1155/2013/129841. Print 2013. PubMed PMID: 23878520; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3710624.
- Dysinger WS. Lifestyle medicine competencies for primary care physicians. Virtual Mentor. 2013;15(4):306–310. doi:10.1001/virtualmentor.2013.15.4.medu1-1304. PubMed PMID: 23566779.
- Lianov L, Johnson M. Physician competencies for prescribing lifestyle medicine. JAMA. 2010;304(2):202–203.