No images? Click here
Dear member,
The Covid-19 pandemic has laid bare the extent of health inequalities both within, and between societies.
As BSLM chairman, Dr Rob Lawson, recently told a meeting of the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine: "The pandemic has been likened to being in a storm at sea. What we have learned is we are not all in the same boat". Some are in a ship; some are in life rafts; some of which are leaking. Some are in different storms altogether.
“So it has not affected us all equally. And it is quite clear that the pandemic has exposed both healthy inequity, but also lack of investment in public health.”
The tragic situation currently unfolding in India, is a stark illustration of this reality – and underlines the need for a united, global response to all the health challenges we face.
An international effort is needed to address the nature of the current “syndemic": a perfect storm of rising rates of non-communicable disease, combined with a global infectious disease pandemic.
We are pleased to report that the global lifestyle medicine movement is taking further steps to address these challenges with the recent formation of the World Lifestyle Medicine Council. This will ensure our national lifestyle medicine societies work together rather than in isolation to find common solutions which will benefit people wherever they live in the world.
The full Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine webinar ‘Lifestyle Medicine in Pandemics: Lessons for the Future’ is available to view on youtube
Health inequity was also central to a recent article published in the British Journal of General Practice which cast a partly critical eye over the lifestyle medicine discipline - and which has led to considerable online discussion and debate.
BSLM feels there was much to commend in the article including the highlighting of some of the key drivers of non-communicable disease such as smoking, alcohol, poor diet and physical activity.
BSLM trustee and Learning Academy Director Dr Ellen Fallows has penned an insightful and critical response to the article which you can read on our website. As Dr Fallows points out: let’s not also forget “sleep, social connection, connection with nature and relaxation as less well studied but equally important contributors to health outcomes for some people.”
We welcome further discussion and debate about the role of lifestyle medicine and how to strengthen its effectiveness. This is essential if we are to continue to establish a sound evidence base for our discipline with a common and agreed set of standards to underpin lifestyle medicine practice.
A letter in response to the article, sent on behalf of BSLM trustees, can also be read on the BJGP website.
The Covid-19 pandemic has placed huge stresses on our mental health – and this has renewed our focus in the lifestyle medicine community to address this core part of our overall health and wellbeing.
The month of May sees a big focus on mental health - with Mental Health awareness week running between May 10-16.
And our next free member webinar on May 18 also has a mental health focus.
We are delighted to be joined by ‘The Lifestyle Psychiatrist’ Charlotte Marriott who will be exploring some of the lifestyle medicine interventions which can optimise mental health and well-being.
Charlotte will be joined by clinical psychologist Dr Aria Campbell-Danesh who will be discussing behaviour change at the webinar.
We hope you can join us for what promises to be an informative session and a chance to meet ‘virtually’ with other BSLM members.
Book now for our next free member webinar.
May 30 – June 5 is Lifestyle Medicine Week and is an opportunity to raise awareness of lifestyle medicine and its enormous potential to address global health challenges.
Throughout the week we will be sharing content on our social media channels and website and look forward to hearing from you. Don’t forget to mention us when posting – remember you can access all our social media channels via our Linktr.ee.
We are also running a fundraising campaign to support the launch of our new Learning Academy During the week.
Read more on our website.
This newsletter contains images. Download them for the full experience.
Discounted early bird tickets are available until May 30 for this year’s British Society of Lifestyle Medicine annual conference.
The conference takes place from September 2-4 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre but you can also purchase a virtual ticket to enjoy content online.
BSLM2021 is our fifth anniversary conference and we have booked an impressive line-up of speakers for our annual celebration of “the art and science of health longevity”.
Head to our website for full details on the conference.
BSLM Latest News
Enjoy afternoon tea with … Dr Rob Lawson
BSLM chairman Dr Rob Lawson is guest speaker at the May 30th session of ‘Afternoon Tea with Docs’ a weekly online conversation on lifestyle medicine and health. Dr Lawson will be discussing the wider determinants of health and disease at the session which runs from 5pm-6.30pm. Book now via eventbrite
The role of sleep in vaccine efficacy
It’s well documented that a lack of sleep is associated with the production of fewer T cells which reduces our ability to fight infections. But studies have also shown that getting a good night’s sleep on the day of vaccination can help to improve vaccine efficacy.
Christine Poulter examines the evidence in the BSLM blog.
Webinar examines UK diet after Covid and Brexit
How has the way we eat in the UK been impacted by some of the key events of the last year including Covid-19 and Brexit?
On June 1, the Royal Society of Medicine is bringing together a panel of experts to examine the state of the British diet in 2021 and the nutrition and health status of the population. Read more
Anxiety limiting “return to normal” after Covid
‘Covid-19 anxiety syndrome’ may cause a significant number of people to struggle with reintegrating back into daily life as the UK returns to normal after the pandemic, says new research by London South Bank University (LSBU), in partnership with Kingston University.
Read more on the London South Bank University website.
Humility and the doctor patient relationship
The strength of the doctor-patient relationship is critical when discussing lifestyle interventions to improve patient health.
A doctor's personal qualities and their ability to show humility is key to the success of this relationship, argues Edinburgh-based GP Dr Alison Macartney in the BSLM blog this month.
Dr Macartney says a non-judgemental, empathetic approach, based on truly listening, can lead to highly effective joint decision making.
Lack of physical activity can increase Covid risk
Physical inactivity is associated with a higher risk for severe Covid-19 outcomes, a study has shown.
The study in the BMJ has concluded patients with Covid-19 who were consistently inactive had a greater risk of hospitalisation, admission to ICU and death compared to patients who were consistently meeting physical activity guidelines.
Calorie restriction and type 2 diabetes remission
What’s the evidence that calorie restriction can help patients with type 2 diabetes to achieve remission?
BSLM member Dr Elizabth Jacob has co-authored a systematic review of ‘energy restricted interventions’ trial data and concluded remission rates are high.
Dr Jacob argues in the review that national guidelines should be updated to reflect recent evidence. Read more.
NHS NETWORKS: Weekly News Stories
Cardiovascular disease prevention packs
These packs estimate the progress of local health economies towards the Public Health England cardiovascular disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment ambitions for hypertension and atrial fibrillation
Mental health support service for healthcare staff
NHS England and NHS Improvement has strengthened the mental health support offer for all healthcare staff, including primary care health team members in general practices, community pharmacies and optometry and dental practices, to ensure they have rapid access to mental health services and support.
Facebook campaign to prevent Type 2 diabetes
The NHS is using Facebook to reach millions of men aged 40 and over who are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, to help them to change their lifestyle and avoid the condition.
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 are focusing autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disorders and arthritis with our very own Chairman Dr Rob Lawson, speaking on May 30th
Plant-based Diets in the Prevention, Treatment, and Re-mission of Type 2 Diabetes
7pm Thursday, May 20 2021 Online
Free webinar from Plant Based Health Professionals with Dr Brenda Davis in which participants will learn about the strength of the link be-tween diet, lifestyle and type 2 diabetes and the evidence for diet as a primary therapeutic tool. The presentation will focus on the practical dietary modifications proven effective for reducing risk of type 2 diabetes and for treating the disease.
The Future of Healthcare is Lifestyle Medicine
Until July 31st 2021 Online
This digital modular course provided by online CPD provider Inspired Medics is aimed at GPs looking to use lifestyle medicine in their consultations with patients.
