No images? Click here
March 2024
Welcome member to
Your home of lifestyle medicine news
As March comes to a close, we hope you've had the opportunity to enjoy the milder weather and the longer days. As we transition into spring, it's the perfect time to reflect on the changes around us and embrace the opportunities the new season brings.
As always we want to take this opportunity to thank our growing Membership and this diverse, passionate community that has grown around us. We are grateful that month on month you follow our updates, contribute and build this fantastic and inclusive network across the UK and beyond!
Below is your guide to all things lifestyle medicine this month, insight into March at BSLM and also what's in store for April!
In this month's Newsletter...
HEADLINE NEWS
Call for Abstracts: BSLM25
We want to hear your lifestyle medicine success stories!
With three months left to submit, we’re inviting abstracts for poster presentations that highlight the impact of lifestyle medicine in clinical practice. This is your chance to showcase how lifestyle medicine is improving patient care and outcomes.
We’re looking for original and impactful work in science, research, clinical practice (including service improvement or audit projects), and public health. Successful applicants will have the chance to present a poster at BSLM 2025, with top submissions considered for main stage oral presentations.
WLMO Update: Insights from Hong Kong
Last week, Executive Director Fraser Quin and International Director Rob Lawson were in Hong Kong, where Rob presented at the inaugural Primary Care Conference, organised by PolyU and supported by the Hong Kong Government. During the conference, both Fraser and Rob led a workshop focused on integrating lifestyle medicine education into Primary Care and Health Education.
This event provided an excellent opportunity to build connections with universities in Hong Kong and strengthen ties with BSLM. It also allowed us to engage with universities from mainland China, and we look forward to discussing Core Accreditation and other BSLM educational offerings with them in the near future.
Want to learn more about the international expansion of lifestyle medicine? Visit our website and follow us on social media for the latest updates and insights.
MEMBERS, THERE'S STILL TIME TO SECURE YOUR SUPER EARLY BIRD TICKETS FOR BSLM 2025
There’s still time to grab your Super Early Bird ticket for BSLM 2025, but don’t wait too long! As a valued member, you have exclusive access to the best available rate. Take advantage of this limited-time offer and secure your spot at the conference today before prices go up!
LIFESTYLE MEDICINE IN FOCUS
Some noteworthy lifestyle medicine features within the recent news in Britain.
Drugs to Avoid in the Name of Better Patient Care- 2025 update
Lifestyle Medicine is a discipline that describes the evidence for what works best when assessing and supporting people to change behaviour across the 6 pillars and achieve better health. It is practiced alongside prescribing of medicines and use of surgery. However, Lifestyle Medicine practice often results in use of fewer medicines, reduction of repeat medications and even stopping medicines when the underlying disease processes have been addressed. Examples include in Type-2 diabetes remission, depression treatment or weight loss.
Reducing the harms associated with too many medicines (or “polypharmacy”) is a key part of Lifestyle Medicine practice. It can be a challenge to know which medicines are useful and important, which may be safe but ineffective and which are unsafe and ineffective so shouldn’t be used or should be stopped.
This piece of work is by the not-for-profit and pharma sponsorship free organisation Prescrire, is hugely helpful when considering which medicines to avoid.
Great work Prescrire for this important contribution! Thank you from the BSLM.
New Insights: The Impact of Cardiometabolic Health Education on Populations with Lower Educational Attainment
We’d like to share an article recently published by Kate Woolley, our Learning Academy Clinical Director, who is also active in research alongside her work at BSLM.
The paper is a systematic review of patient education interventions for individuals with lower educational attainment in cardiometabolic disease. It highlights the biological, behavioural, and psychological benefits of such interventions in this vulnerable group.
Lower educational attainment often correlates with socioeconomic adversity, putting individuals at higher risk for cardiometabolic conditions and worse outcomes. This group may also have different preferences for education delivery, making tailored interventions crucial to prevent exacerbating health inequalities.
While patient education is key to lifestyle change, as those in lifestyle medicine know, it’s not enough on its own. Behavioural change support and addressing broader health determinants are also necessary, which may explain the varying efficacy noted in the paper.
Other Lifestyle Medicine News and Events
We want to advise our followers that we as a charity welcome membership from organisations aligned with our aims, and in line with strict ethical and sponsorship policies in order to provide funding sources to the charity.
If you have a query around the subject matter we will happily discuss this with you, do drop us a DM or email: Office@bslm.org.uk as we want to make sure this content is a good fit for you.
Discover the heart-healthy benefits of flaxseed in this article by leading nutritionist Jane McClenaghan. Learn how incorporating flaxseed into your daily diet can support cardiovascular health, from reducing cholesterol to improving blood pressure. Jane breaks down the power of omega-3s, lignans, and fibre in flaxseed, offering simple tips to boost heart health. Plus, explore other dietary recommendations to complement a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Yakult: Gut Health Symposium
Join Yakult Science for Health for an evening of insights, thoughtful discussion, and networking on Wednesday 7th May at Fora, London where they will explore the latest research on longevity and the gut microbiome.
Expert speakers, Professor Claire Steves and Dr Jenna Macciochi, will share emerging evidence on how physical, mental, and environmental factors can support long-term health, helping you and your patients thrive now and in the years ahead.
You will also get the opportunity to ask your burning questions during the Q&A session and connect with fellow healthcare professionals over gut-friendly refreshments before leaving with a goodie bag.
Tickets are limited so be sure to get them quick (£10.00 each + booking fee), with all proceeds going to the charity, Royal Voluntary Service. Register now to avoid missing out!
LATEST NEWS AT BSLM
We've included some updates below to give you an idea of what we've been up to & updates for you.
BSLM Consensus Statement: Anti-Obesity Medications
In collaboration with The British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and the College of Medicine and Integrated Health (CoM), we’ve released a statement on the use of anti-obesity medications (AOMs).
While AOMs like GLP-1 Receptor Agonists show promise, we urge policymakers and healthcare leaders to ensure their use is safe, effective, and sustainable. We emphasize that AOMs should be paired with a comprehensive Lifestyle Medicine approach to address the root causes of obesity and prevent unintended harms, especially for vulnerable individuals.
If you haven't read it yet, check it out on our website below.
Open Access Government January 2025: The broad benefits of Lifestyle Medicine
We are excited to share a recent article by Dr. Alex Maxwell, President of BSLM, published in collaboration with Open Access Government. The piece examines the broad benefits of lifestyle medicine and how it can enhance clinical care by promoting a more holistic and person-centred approach to health.
Dr. Maxwell highlights how lifestyle medicine addresses the socioeconomic determinants of health while empowering individuals to make sustainable changes in areas such as physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and sleep. The article also emphasizes how integrating lifestyle medicine into clinical practice can help reduce health inequities and improve population health outcomes.
At BSLM, we are committed to advancing the evidence base for lifestyle medicine and supporting clinicians in delivering comprehensive, patient-centred care. This collaboration with Open Access Government is another step toward raising awareness of the value lifestyle medicine brings to individuals, communities, and healthcare systems.
To explore the full article and learn more about how lifestyle medicine can transform care, click the link below!
It's Time for Action: Have Your Say in the NHS Change Campaign
The NHS Change Campaign deadline is approaching and we're highlighting the deadline is fast approaching next month on the 14th of April at 5pm.
Now is the time to take action. Use our text templates to complete your survey and make sure Lifestyle Medicine is represented in the 10 Year Plan and 3 Shift Queries. Your input will show the power of support for this approach.
Encourage others to join in by spreading our resources, which are available in the digital campaign pack below. Every bit of support helps. To make your voice heard, make sure to submit via the NHS Change platform.
The statistics are alarming, and without intervention, things will only worsen. This is our chance to shape the future of the NHS and promote the principles of Lifestyle Medicine.
Exciting Announcement: Dr. Ed Maile Appointed Director of Science and Research
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Ed Maile to the post of Director of Science and Research. He will take up his duties on 1st of June this year, so I am sure you will be hearing from him in the summer as he starts to engage with the membership. He will also be in Brighton at BSLM 2025, so there will be ample opportunity to meet him there.
Ed is a GP in the East Midlands and also Director of Research and Education at Sprink.
He has combined his postgraduate medical training with academic posts at Oxford University and Imperial College London, publishing and presenting research in areas including oncology, child health and medical education. Alongside this, he developed his passion for lifestyle medicine. At Oxford, Ed won national funding from Health Education England to deliver a regional nutrition teaching programme. At Imperial, he was Module Development Co-Lead for ‘Lifestyle Medicine and Prevention’, the UK’s first mandatory lifestyle medicine course for medical students.
He holds degrees in Medicine and Genetics from the University of Manchester and has a Master of Public Health from Harvard University, where he was a Kennedy Scholar. He also has experience in health policy, having previously worked as Clinical Fellow to the National Medical Director at NHS England. In addition, he has held tutoring positions at Oxford, Harvard and Imperial.
Ed strongly believes in lifestyle medicine’s ability to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in society, and the vital role that trustworthy science and research plays in this.
Please join us in welcoming Ed to BSLM - we are excited to have him on board!
BSLM Member Dr. Helen Kini: Promoting Lifestyle Medicine in the Sports Community
We’re excited to spotlight Dr. Helen Kini, a dedicated BSLM member, who is making strides in promoting the principles of lifestyle medicine within the sports community. Recently, Dr. Kini shared insights from an interview in her new voluntary role on the Advisory Board of England Netball, an opportunity she’s embraced to raise awareness about lifestyle medicine and its benefits for athletes and sports professionals.
In her article, Dr. Kini discusses the vital intersection between lifestyle medicine and sports, explaining how lifestyle medicine can be a game-changer for both physical and mental wellbeing. Through her work with England Netball, she hopes to introduce these principles to the wider netball community and other sports, helping athletes optimize their performance and overall health.
We’re thrilled to see members like Dr. Kini raising awareness and driving change in such impactful ways. We look forward to following her journey and the positive influence she’s making within the sports community!
Celebrating International Women’s Day: Honouring Dr. Frances Elliot
In celebration of International Women’s Day earlier this month, we were proud to spotlight Dr. Frances Elliot, who was appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees at BSLM in December. Dr. Elliot’s remarkable career includes key leadership roles such as:
Chief Executive of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
Medical Director of Fife Healthcare NHS Trust
Deputy Chief Medical Officer in the Scottish Government Health & Social Care Directorates
GP, Director of Research & Development, and Member of the Independent Review Panel for the NHS Highland Healing Process
We are incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Elliot leading BSLM into 2025 and beyond, driving us to innovate and push the boundaries of lifestyle medicine in healthcare.
To read Dr. Elliot’s 2025 message with Dr. Fraser Quin, click the button below!
We really appreciate your time - Member Feedback
Member experience is of the upmost experience to us at BSLM and we'd love to hear a little more from you. As we grow, your feedback, opinions and suggestions help us shape our service and strategy. Please spare a few minutes to complete the questions below.
What's happening in Our Communities?
Blog highlight: "I Wish My GP Had Known This!"
Dan Hindsley, a Living Proof Ambassador, shares his personal journey from being labelled a "heartsink" patient to fully recovering from chronic back pain. After years of suffering and a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease, Dan discovered that his pain was caused by nervous system dysregulation, not physical degeneration.
Through the principles in Living Proof's "Medicine and the Mind-Brain-Body Connection" course, Dan rewired his neural pathways and went from being unable to run to completing an Ironman 70.3 triathlon. He now advocates for a better approach to chronic pain and encourages GPs to take this CPD-accredited course to better understand how to treat patients with ongoing pain.
Dan and some of the other members of the group will be joining us at the annual conference this year to share some of their experiences and things they wish healthcare professionals had known during their journey navigating the path to lifestyle medicine.
We hope to share more exciting resources and personal experiences with you soon - watch this space!
Our monthly Live Well Update
With the Live Well East Lothian Team
This month we have been sharing more information about BSLM and the 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine with our Live Well community. While participants know that the charity is run by the BSLM, we want to make sure they are familiar with lifestyle medicine and what it has to offer outside of the physical activity and social relationship pillars that the classes aim to harbour.
The Live Well newsletter is focusing on one pillar each week and sharing helpful tips, links, and further resources for participants to look through.
We are hoping to develop this further in future and provide more lifestyle information in class!
Is there something like Live Well East Lothian that you refer your patients to, or something that instills a sense of community and wellbeing? Let us know below, we'd love to share initiatives like this one near you!
Our Podcasts
Sound Living is Back!
Ep.8- Food for Thought: Kimberley Wilson on the Science Behind a Healthy Brain & Mental Health
Microbiome Medics Newest Release:
Ep.26 - The Future of Gut Health: Tim Spector on Microbiomes and Nutrition
The Movement Prescription Podcast are back! Their Newest release:
Every time one of the podcasts above are released we'll be updating the newsletter, so keep an eye out for updates here for your monthly listening fix!
FEATURED BSLM EVENTS
Head to the dedicated BSLM events page for the full list of upcoming events...
April's webinar is round the corner...
... Here's a sneak peek for this upcoming month!
We hope you enjoyed our previous webinar:
Our previous webinars are below if you want to catch up on them!
Other Events
Schedule the below in your diary for April 2025!
Pulse Live Leeds
This event features a comprehensive programme that meets CPD requirements, covering the latest clinical updates, career development workshops, policy updates and more.
Why the lines are starting to blur between NHS care and health at work
Grace Gimson from our organisational member, Holly Health, is speaking on a webinar about workplace health next Wednesday 2nd April at 11am.
The talk will cover mental and physical health issues and how current NHS challenges mean more health responsibility falls on workplace leaders/employers.
To register for the free online event, please click the link below:
Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine webinar for SBK Healthcare
Designed for all GPs and Practice Nurses: find out how to incorporate lifestyle medicine into your consultation to improve patient health and wellbeing.
BSLM AGM
Members can join at the BSLM AGM via Zoom. This event is open to all members, although only full members can vote.
BSLM's Monthly Webinar
Available to BSLM Members in our monthly series, register for the next upcoming webinar, bringing in two new speakers exploring the evidence-based world with lifestyle medicine.
BSLM's Lifestyle Medicine and planetary health study day
This study day will explore how caring for and restoring the natural world ultimately benefits our own health. The event is accredited for 5.5 hours of CPD.
RCGP Lifestyle Medicine One Day Essentials
The BSLM is proud to support this RCGP event, which is free for members. This insightful day will feature expert speakers who will explore the integration of lifestyle medicine into everyday clinical practice. The conference will cover key topics, including the RCGP GP with Extended Role in Lifestyle Medicine pathway, the evidence supporting lifestyle medicine, and its role in population and public health.
Sessions will also focus on how lifestyle medicine can help reduce health inequities, prevent over-diagnosis, and minimise over-prescribing. Additionally, speakers will highlight how lifestyle medicine promotes more sustainable practices, delivers person-centred care, and embraces broader aspects of wellbeing, such as the therapeutic benefits of art and nature.
Primary Care Partnership Network
PCPN is a unique, two-day learning and networking event which brings together the most inspirational leaders and transformational suppliers in the primary healthcare sector to share cutting-edge insight, knowledge and experience.
RCN Congress 2025
Join the Royal College of Nursing for four days of professional and personal development at Exhibition Centre Liverpool from 12-15th May 2025. Network, learn, debate and celebrate nursing with inspiring speakers, exhibitors and colleagues.
Learning Academy
The newest course available to you!
It’s been another busy month for the Learning Academy! You’ve probably seen our recent social media posts about the new courses we've launched - now, we have another exciting release to share with you!
What will this course provide?
Metabolic syndromes are a cluster of interrelated conditions, including obesity, hypertension, and insulin resistance, that significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The course emphasises a patient-centred approach, equipping healthcare providers with the tools to implement personalised, sustainable lifestyle changes that address the root causes of metabolic syndromes.
Who is this course for?
This course would suit any healthcare professional interested in the prevention and treatment of metabolic associated conditions, who wants to gain a deeper understanding of this area. A baseline knowledge of biology and lifestyle medicine-related concepts is advised, but not mandatory.
What will I learn?
Poor metabolic health can lead to diseases affecting multiple different body systems. The most well-known are cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, including polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, cancer, and dementia. You will first develop a deep understanding of the metabolic syndrome, its pathophysiology and sequelae. We will then explore how each of the pillars of lifestyle medicine affect the condition and can be harnessed in its prevention and treatment. We will finish by considering how to bring all this information together in a consultation.
A few opportunity reminders:
Do you have an interest in social prescribing? BSLM President Dr. Alex Maxwell has been kind enough to write us a course on social prescribing and we are looking for a passionate member with strong knowledge of this subject to help us give it a final BSLM Learning Academy polish as a joint writer. If you would like the opportunity to get this on your CV we would love to hear from you.
We are also looking to appoint a BSLM learner panel to help us continue to deliver a brilliant experience and make our Learning Academy even better. We anticipate that this group will meet quarterly. If you have learned with us on any of our courses then we would love you to join, with the opportunity to acquire Learning Academy credit by way of thanks for your time. Spots are limited so get in touch ASAP.
If you are interested in either of these opportunities, please get in touch with us via office@bslm.org.uk (or via the button below)!
Thought about doing our Core Accreditation?
NHS NETWORKS
Top News Stories in March
AI in the public sector
Support to get patients off waiting lists
Protecting communities from illicit tobacco and vapes
Email us - office@bslm.org.uk
