BSLM Newsletter September 2021
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Dear member,
Our first 'hybrid' annual conference was an incredible success this month.
More than 850 of you joined us for the conference - either in person at the Edinburgh ICC or virtually, enjoying content online.
Many of you told us you appreciated the opportunity to meet colleagues in person this year after 2020's online only event. To see our lifestyle medicine community come together again after the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic was especially heartwarming.
And what an "unparalleled" range of speakers and topics we were able to bring you.
As our chairman Dr Rob Lawson commented: "BSLM2021 has been a great shop window for lifestyle medicine and something which we should all feel very proud of. I feel rejuvenated - it's been a marvellous experience."
And as BSLM trustee, Dr Punam Krishan added: "BSLM2021 is where the change makers are. We have been talking about the power of lifestyle for years and now everybody is catching on to it. Every day in our practice we are championing this as the first line of medicine - and BSLM is really starting to make waves."
BSLM2021 was a chance to learn, to reflect, to network ... and to build the knowledge and skills needed to further our lifestyle medicine practice. And to have fun with a packed programme of side events including PT sessions, yoga, cookery demonstrations and a chance to meet our sponsors.
Watch this space, as we will soon be unveiling plans for future regional events around the UK - providing us with new opportunities to meet and learn together. And of course we look forward to bringing you our next annual conference in London in 2022! Details TBC in the coming months.
In the meantime, please enjoy this short film featuring reflections from some of you at BSLM2021 - and why we need lifestyle medicine ...
Please also take a moment to read some thoughts from our chairman Dr Rob Lawson for the BSLM blog, and a short message from our Executive Director Fraser Quin on the conference.
We've are also producing a photo gallery for the BSLM website of pictures from the event in Edinburgh and will share this with you shortly.
Join us for the next BSLM free member webinar on Tuesday, September 21 at 7pm where we will be exploring social prescribing and yoga therapy.
For this month's session we are delighted to welcome BSLM Social Prescribing Director Dr Alex Maxwell and yoga therapist, Nikki Jackson.
Dr Maxwell is a passionate advocate for social prescribing - which involves referring patients to local, non-clinical services to support their health and wellbeing. Alex will be explaining the evidence base for social prescribing: why and how it works - and why it needs to be part of the lifestyle medicine approach. Alex has been a key player in the hugely successful social prescribing project in Croydon, south London, SocialP. Alex truly understands the power of building and connecting non-clinical community-based resources and continues to push social prescribing forward on a local and national level.
Nikki Jackson is a health consultant who has been teaching yoga and yoga therapy since 1991. Yoga therapy is a compassionate based and holistic therapeutic intervention that supports and self-empowers people to 'unravel’ the causes behind their physical and or psychological health condition.
BSLM webinars are open to all members and we encourage you to join us live on the day of the webinar so you can take part in the Q&A with our speakers.
Get 20% off new lifestyle medicine textbook
The essential new textbook for those studying towards the BSLM/IBLM diploma is now available - and we have secured a 20% discount for BSLM members who want to buy a copy.
The book promises an in-depth look at all content covered in the certification exam's Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
Essential MCQs for Certification in Lifestyle Medicine has been written by a team of distinguished medical doctors and authors who will be familiar to many of you who attended our annual conference this month ...
Ifeoma Monye BSLM Regional Director and Founding President of the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria.
Adaeze Ifezulike BSLM Regional Director and a GP NHS Grampian.
Karen Adamson, Consultant Physician, Diabetes and Endocrinology; Clinical Director of Medicine and Associated Services, NHS Lothian.
Fraser Birrell BSLM Director of Science & Research and editor Editor-in-Chief of Lifestyle Medicine our discipline's hugely respected journal.
Published by Wiley, Essential MCQs for Certification in Lifestyle Medicine is available now as an E-book, and will be published in print in October.
Read more and order your copy with a 20% discount (use code BSLM2 at checkout) at wiley.com
And it's not too late to sign up for this year's exam ...
If you've still not joined the hundreds of people already signed up for this year's BSLM/IBLM diploma course, don't miss out!
You still have until the end of September to secure your place. To do so, you will need to have attended our annual conference in Edinburgh this month in person in order to obtain the necessary CPD hours required by the course.
We are still awaiting confirmation of this year's exam centre locations - however they will be held on November 27 & December 11 at a number of local test centres.
Remember, Lifestyle Medicine Certification can be undertaken through the BSLM/IBLM from a clinical or public health perspective, and demonstrates your commitment to, and expertise in, Lifestyle Medicine. It will also augment your clinical or public health practice with a solid grounding in preventing, managing and reversing chronic and lifestyle-related disease.
Find out more at bslm.org.uk/education/iblm-certification
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BSLM Latest News
Is it possible to achieve growth after trauma?
BSLM regional director and Cumbria-based GP, Dr Reeta Karamchandani, explores the topic of post-traumatic growth in the BSLM blog this month ...
Read Dr Karamchandani's blog: Post-traumatic growth – beyond just healing
Dr Karamchandani takes the view that we need to flip our view of post trauma in terms of a"stress disorder". Instead, the concept of post-traumatic growth has the potential to empower us to achieve a "transformation from suffering to growth".
Dr Karamchandani adds: "An opportunity awaits if we are able to use trauma to find new ways to grow. Ultimately, it can help us understand that suffering is universal."
Patient engagement and virtual group consultations
Interest in the potential of virtual group consultations continues to grow - and a webinar planned for October will be exploring how to further engage patients with the concept.
The webinar is on October 7 at 7pm and will be an opportunity to hear from people living with breast cancer, diabetes, long covid, menopause and weight challenges.
Full speaker list will be confirmed shortly - but the session will explore how patients have achieved improvements to their condition through Virtual Group Consultations during the last 18 months.
Get £100 off the next Culinary Medicine course
We hope you enjoyed sessions at BSLM2021 with the team from Culinary Medicine.
Culinary Medicine is a Community Interest Company set up to teach health practitioners the foundations of clinical nutrition and how to cook.
BSLM members can now secure a place on the next Culinary Medicine course for just £149 - £100 less than the full price.
Find out more about Culinary Medicine and its unique combination of nutrition and culinary knowledge at culinarymedicineuk.org
Use this link to register your interest in the next Culinary Medicine course (dates tbc) and secure your discount.
Relationship-based care and the art of general practice
For those of us with an interest in lifestyle medicine, we all know the importance of patients feeling listened to and supported by clinicians.
This crucial point was picked up by BSLM Learning Academy Director and GP, Dr Ellen Fallows, in a letter published in the BMJ this month.
Ellen's letter was in response to a BMJ article from an anonymous patient who revealed how her GP's use of shared decision making had helped her through a period of mental health difficulties brought on by stress.
Read Ellen's letter in the BMJ about "relationship based care and the art that is general practice"
Prof Robert Thomas publishes new book: How to Live
How to Live is the inspirational new book title from Prof Robert Thomas, one of Britain's leading oncologists and a speaker at a number of BSLM conferences.
Our chairman, Dr Rob Lawson, has written a review of the book and concludes it is "highly recommended for anyone who wants the tools and knowledge to improve their health".
Prof Thomas' unique insights are drawn from his work running an exercise, lifestyle and dietary research unit which has published hundreds of original studies across the world.
International Academy of Nutrition Educators update
BSLM members can now get £50 off membership of NNEdPro's International Academy of Nutrition Educators (IANE).
The International Academy of Nutrition Educators is a membership scheme for professionals interested in developing and delivering high quality nutrition education and evaluating its impact, particularly on healthcare practice.
Benefits of membership include: one to one mentoring sessions, live webinars and journal clubs, exclusive discounts, forum discussions, as well as the award of post-nominal letters for professional members and fellows. Membership will equip you with all you need to be a successful nutrition educator.
Read more about IANE on the NNedPro website
Access IANE membership discount code on the BSLM website (log in required)
Don't be afraid to be weird when it comes to food!
Glasgow-based GP Dr Sheena Fraser shares her memories of a lifetime of "weird" eating for the BSLM blog this month!
Sheena grew up in a household of foraging and homemade meals - where McDonald's and processed foods were definitely off the menu.
Now a parent herself, Sheena has embraced what she once felt was weird and has passed on her love of "real food" to her children.
Thanks to Sheena for sharing her inspirational personal food story which is full of wonderful anecdotes on the joys of food!
Deepak lifts the lid on long covid and lifestyle medicine
What is Longcovid? What are its causes? And what are the main symptoms?
For the BSLM blog this month pain and lifestyle medicine specialist Dr Deepak Davindran shares his insights on what lifestyle-based interventions may help those with the condition.
Lifestyle medicine & health in the news
Report claims "fundamental flaws" in obesity energy balance model
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has published a new paper explaining the causes of obesity including claims there are fundamental flaws in the energy balance model, and tying obesity to the consumption of low-quality food and processed carbohydrates. The authors argue that an alternate model, the carbohydrate-insulin model, better explains obesity and points the way to more effective and long-lasting weight management strategies. Read more
Navigating the
options for older people's care
The British Geriatrics Society has published a new report to help health professionals to navigate the options for providing urgent care to older people which can be delivered at home, avoiding unnecessary emergency hospital admissions. Read the BGC's Right time, right place: Urgent community-based care for older people report.
Evaluation report published into Covid loneliness fund
A report has been published evaluating the effectiveness of the £5 million loneliness COVID-19 Fund. The fund was launched in May 2020 to support nine national organisations working to tackle loneliness and build social connections. Read the National Centre for Social Research's evaluation report
PHE report looks at Covid impact on physical activity among older people
A Public Health England report has looked at the impact of COVID-19 on older people (65+), including physical activity levels and rates of falls. The report provides recommendations on mitigating these impacts and ways to improve older adult mental and physical health. Read the report
Research calls for change of language around "alcoholism"
New research by London South Bank University (LSBU) has found that heavy drinkers may be less likely to make changes to their drinking if they think about it in terms of ‘alcoholism’. Academics found that language concerning alcohol problems has implications for recovery and concluded that policymakers, researchers and other stakeholders should avoid "alcoholic" terminology. Read the report in full
Reset Your Health
Until May 5th 2022 Online
Reset Your Health is an informative and individualised online programme which equips the user with evidence-based nutritional advice and the practical skills they need to eat healthy. Using a detailed ingredient-based algorithm RYH provides recipes personalised to an individual’s food preferences, dietary requirements and health conditions helping reverse health conditions caused by lifestyle.
Afternoon Tea with Docs
Every Sunday at 5pm Online on Zoom
Join Dr Linda Mizun and Dr Erica Lin every Sunday for relaxed and educational health and lifestyle medicine discussion aimed at health professionals and the general public. This month's session ... TBC
Lifestyle Medicine in Clinical Practice
Until January 1st 2022 Online
Online Digital CPD Course 2. Accredited for 10 CPD hours by BSLM. This course has been created for busy NHS clinicians to enable them to practice evidence- based Lifestyle Medicine with their patients. CPD which is inspiring and will help you to feel more fulfilled in your own career.
