Recently, Global CEO Magazine had a one-on-one discussion with Dr Rasarie Wimalana
She is a certified practitioner in Lifestyle Medicine from the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine, and the Founder and Chairperson of Sajeevan Lifestyle Medicine. Additionally, she serves as a Vice President of the Sri Lankan Society of Lifestyle Medicine.
Q: What do you see as one of the biggest challenges in healthcare today?
A: We are facing an escalating epidemic of lifestyle related chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Q: What is lifestyle medicine?
A: Lifestyle medicine is a branch of Western medicine that uses evidence-based therapeutic lifestyle interventions as the primary modality to prevent, treat, and even reverse chronic diseases. Evidence-based lifestyle changes serve as the first-line treatment method through lifestyle prescriptions, with medication and other modalities used on a case-by-case basis.
Q: How does lifestyle medicine differ from traditional healthcare approaches?
A: Lifestyle medicine shifts the focus from treating symptoms and effects of chronic diseases, to addressing their root causes which are often tied to our everyday lifestyle habits.
Q: What are the core pillars of lifestyle medicine?
1. Nutrition:
– Emphasises a plant-predominant, whole food diet with foods that are rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber.
– Focuses on food for optimal gut microbiome functioning, improved insulin resistance, enhanced mental well-being, and longevity.
2. Physical Activity:
– Effective treatment for cardiometabolic diseases.
– Crucial for maintaining a healthy weight, improving mental well-being and aging well.
– Encourages comprehensive physical fitness, including cardiovascular endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility.
3. Restorative Sleep:
– Essential for optimal health in terms of duration, quality, and regularity.
– Poor sleep is linked to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and overall mortality.
– Promotes strong sleep hygiene practices.
4. Stress Management:
– Chronic stress impacts both physical and mental health.
– Uses strategies like cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness meditation, exercise, deep breathing, time in nature, and yoga to manage stress.
5. Management of Risky Substances:
-Focuses on smoking cessation, avoiding excessive alcohol, and other harmful substances.
– Uses strategies like counselling, behavioural therapies, and peer support
6. Positive Connections:
-Fostering positive social connections reduces the risk of chronic diseases, improves resilience to stress, and increases longevity.
– Promotes positive psychology interventions like gratitude, empathy, character strengths and virtues.
Q: What are the benefits of lifestyle medicine?
– Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases:
Significantly lowers the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancers.
– Effective Management of Chronic Diseases:
Improves symptoms, biomarkers, and affect disease progression without excessive reliance on medication.
– Improved Mental Health:
Enhances mental well-being through physical activity, nutritious diet, stress management, and social connections.
– Sense of Control Over Health:
Boosts energy levels, elevates quality of life, and proactively transforms healthcare from treating ailments to achieving optimal health.
– Cost Savings:
By prevention and treatment of chronic diseases using lifestyle strategies, reduces healthcare costs for individuals, organizations, and the healthcare system as a whole.
Q: Why is lifestyle medicine relevant for corporate leaders and CEOs?
A: Lifestyle medicine offers a holistic approach to health that can transform individual lives and organisations. A healthy workforce is more productive and engaged, which is vital for a thriving organization.
Q: How can lifestyle medicine benefit corporate leaders and CEOs?
A: By prioritising health and wellness, leaders can enhance their effectiveness, resilience, and performance. It helps them manage stress, make better decisions, and lead with empathy and clarity. Championing lifestyle medicine can also cultivate a culture of wellness, boost employee engagement, reduce absenteeism, and lower healthcare
costs.
Lifestyle medicine helps unlock your body’s innate ability to heal and guides you on a transformative journey toward a healthier, more vibrant future, allowing you to live your full potential.
For more information please visit: www.slslm.org.lk
