A recent symposium held at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) brought together over 360 healthcare experts from around the world to discuss the pressing issue of non-communicable diseases like type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The symposium also marked the inaugural summit of the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance Leadership Forum, where 26 prominent leaders in Lifestyle Medicine signed the ‘Doha Declaration’. This declaration aims to promote Lifestyle Medicine as a strategy to tackle the rising burden of chronic diseases globally.
Lifestyle Medicine focuses on evidence-based strategies to prevent, treat, and manage chronic diseases by promoting healthy lifestyle habits such as regular physical activity, a balanced diet, stress management, and social connections. Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, vice dean for population health and lifestyle medicine, emphasized the importance of integrating Lifestyle Medicine into healthcare systems to effectively reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. He highlighted the underuse of Lifestyle Medicine approaches and the need to make them more accessible on a global scale.
The Doha Declaration serves as a global strategy to promote Lifestyle Medicine worldwide. One of the key strengths of this approach is its reliance on credible scientific evidence, empowering physicians to help patients make informed decisions about their health. Dr. Sohaila Cheema, assistant dean for IPH and associate professor, stressed the importance of adopting proven Lifestyle Medicine approaches to manage and reverse the rising trend of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity, which are leading to premature mortality and poor quality of life.
The signatories of the Doha Declaration include leaders from Lifestyle Medicine societies around the world, highlighting the global commitment to promoting Lifestyle Medicine as a cost-effective, efficient, and equitable healthcare solution for individuals of all socioeconomic backgrounds. By endorsing the Doha Declaration, these experts aim to work together to make evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine more accessible and integrated into healthcare systems, ultimately helping to prevent, manage, and reverse chronic diseases on a global scale. This collaborative effort signals a significant step towards addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and improving population health worldwide.
