Swimming as Medicine, how to embrace Ramadan with lifestyle medicine, prescription medications and weight gain.
No images? Click here
[ For the best newsletter experience, please click the above prompt to see all images ]
March 2023
your home of lifestyle medicine news
Welcome member
In this month's Newsletter...
Headline News
Social Prescribing and Lifestyle Medicine
Lifestyle Medicine in Focus
Swimming as Medicine, how to embrace Ramadan with lifestyle medicine, prescription medications and weight gain.
BSLM News
Over 100 trailblazers enrolled, gala dinner tickets launched, Professor Edward Kunonga speaking at Westminster Conference, new Microbiome Medics Podcast episode.
Featured BSLM Events
March Webinar, Regional Meetings and more.
Exclusive Member Opportunities & Courses
BSLM 2022 Content now available, access your resources and more for our members!
BSLM 2023
First abstracts submitted - Callum Leese & Mariana Sousa
BSLM Learning Academy
Did You know? The Gut Microbiome for Clinicians
NHS Weekly Newsletter
The latest from the NHS Weekly Blogs.
Featured Video
Check out this month's featured video, exploring our Lifestyle Medicine and Social Prescribing for Social Prescribing Day on 9th March.
While the widest range of content is available through our member resources, we aim to provide engaging video content for the general public, so ensure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel so you don't miss out and please share it far and wide – don’t forget to tag us!
Ongoing Surveys
Non-Member General survey (Non-members ONLY)
Our annual membership survey will also be circulated later in the year to members at the usual time.
HEADLINE NEWS
Social Prescribing and Lifestyle Medicine
It was Social Prescribing Day last week ,and led by Dr Alex Maxwell, the BSLM have created a webpage on that very topic, exploring social prescribing and highlighting useful resources for you.
So, what exactly is social prescribing?
Put simply, social prescribing is connecting people to the non-clinical resources in their community. It identifies and supports community resources and ensures those resources are as effective and efficient as possible. This extends into identifying and supporting people in communities to contribute their skills back into their community. Professionals that are connected to health and wellbeing within the community are then provided with a multitude of resources to provide personalised support to the individuals they encounter.
Learn more about how it links to lifestyle medicine and what is required for effective social prescribing through the link below, or by watching the videos above.
LIFESTYLE MEDICINE IN FOCUS
Swim England and the Royal College of GP’s team up to promote ‘Swimming as Medicine’
Swim England has teamed up with the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) to launch the ‘Swimming as Medicine’ series which aims encourage healthcare professionals to consider recommending swimming and aquatic activity to their patients.
The series outlines how transformative being active in water can be for individuals, and the initial video features Dr Hussain Alzubaidi, a GP in Leamington Spa and RCGP Lifestyle and Physical Activity Clinical Champion.
It launched on Social Prescribing Day, Thursday 9 March, and assets have been shared with pool operator partners and healthcare organisations, such as ourselves, who understand the value of ‘swimming’ and have the opportunity to reach healthcare professionals in a range of settings, to help them realise this too.
Ramadan and Lifestyle Medicine
By Dr Zainab Wasim
Ramadan is the ninth month of fasting in the Islamic lunar calendar from dawn to dusk. It marks the first revelation of the holy book, the Quran to prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It represents a complete physical and mental reset as fasting is an act of going back to the basics : eating mindfully and stopping eating when nearly full, meditation with prayer and qur’anic recitation and gratitude and communities coming together to celebrate the month with opening of the fast and the acts of kindness and charity.
It encompasses almost all the pillars of lifestyle medicine with the exception of sleep and maybe movement but then the act of prayer forces one to move, squat, kneel and stand five times a day and these principles have embodied this month representing the now tenets of lifestyle medicine since over fourteen hundred years ago.
Prescription Medications & Weight Gain
By Ted Kyle, RPh, MBA, and Bonnie Kuehl, PhD
What causes medication-related weight gain?
You might not be doing anything wrong. Certain prescription medications, not all, such as those used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, mood disorders, seizures and even migraines, can actually cause weight gain.
Six Healthy Lifestyle Habits Linked to Slowed Memory Decline
Adhering to six healthy lifestyle behaviours is linked to slower memory decline in older adults, a large, population-based study suggests.
Investigators found that a healthy diet, cognitive activity, regular physical exercise, not smoking, and abstaining from alcohol were significantly linked to slowed cognitive decline irrespective of APOE4 status.
The Body Coach app: free access for NHS Workers
Joe Wicks: "NHS employees work tirelessly each day to look after the health of our nation. Regular exercise and eating nutritious meals can provide huge benefits for our physical and mental health, and through giving free app access to NHS employees, I hope I can help them to improve their health and happiness, while they're working hard to support us."
Constipation Complications
By Dr Sheena Fraser
Dr Sheena Fraser has written her next blog for the BSLM, exploring issues people have with constipation and how that can weigh them down. An important piece that looks at taking constipation more seriously.
LATEST NEWS AT BSLM
Learning Academy enrols over 100 Trailblazers since launch
It has now been just over two months since the BSLM Learning Academy launched the Core Accreditation in Lifestyle Medicine programme. In that time we now had over 100 people sign up to be our Trailblazers and immerse themselves in a new approach to Lifestyle Medicine education.
Commenting on the initial success Andrew Howie, Head of Growth and Development at BSLM said, “We have been really pleased with not only the numbers of people signing up to LMCA but also the feedback we have received for the content and the style of learning. It has also been so wonderful to see how many PCN's, Trusts, Training Hub's and more are funding individual enrolments, thus investing in lifestyle medicine to get to the core of the issue.
We are continuing to add to the experience for our learners, for example online study groups will be going live imminently.”
Interested in joining this growing group of trailblazers? Find out more through the link below or email Andrew at andrew.howie@bslm.org.uk.
It is important to highlight that you may also be eligible for funding through organisations such as your own trust, PCN's so ensure you check for this option.
Gala Dinner tickets for BSLM 2023 launch!
If you are already attending BSLM 2023, you will be pleased to hear that the tickets for the Gala Dinner are now available for purchase. The highlight of the conference for many, the Gala Dinner will take place on the Friday evening (22nd).
It will feature entertainment, food, music and DANCING with a drinks reception at The Octagon followed by a wonderful meal at The Trafford that will provide the perfect way to enjoy your night, creating unforgettable memories in the process and keep us moving throughout.
Tickets are £85 and can be purchased from the link below!
BSLM HMRC Update
We are pleased to announce that the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM) has been approved by the Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs under Section 344 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 with effect from 6 April 2022.
The organisation’s name will appear in the list of approved bodies on Gov.UK (List 3). This means that Members can now claim tax relief against annual Membership fees paid. We are told there may be a short delay before HMRC staff receive notification of the organisation’s approved status. If members wish to obtain a deduction for their annual subscription before the list is updated on Gov.UK, they should explain when contacting HMRC that the organisation has only recently been approved and quote the Head Office reference above.
BSLM Trustee Speaking at Westminster Health Conference
BSLM Trustee Professor Edward Kunonga will be speaking at the Westminster Health Forum policy conference, taking place online on Thursday 8th June 2023.
This conference will look at next steps for using data to deliver and improve health and social care services.
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders to examine ambitions laid out in the Government’s Data Saves Lives policy paper, as well as priorities going forward, including in the development of Secure Data Environments (SDEs).
Key stakeholders and policymakers will discuss what measures are needed to improve and transform existing health strategies, and build public trust in order to encourage patient engagement.
Are Fermented Foods Worth the Hype?
This week on the Microbiome Medics Podcast, Sheena and Siobhan are joined by fermentation expert - Janice Clyne. The team discuss the impact of fermented foods on the gut microbiome. Siobhan brings some interesting research comparing a fermented food diet to a high fibre diet and Janice shares a recipe with the listeners for a delicious and easy to make carrot kraut.
Both Sheena and Sionbhan are BSLM Course content writers, recently creating the BSLM Learning Academy course, 'The Gut Microbiome for Clinicians'.
Click the links below for your preferred platform:
What is Symprove?
Symprove is a unique water-based probiotic supported by in vivo studies and independent in-vitro studies from world-leading institutions, King’s and UCL.
Give your patients 50% off the first 3-months of a flexible subscription. This reduces the cost to just £25 per month (<£1 a day). Speak to our team to get your discount code today.
If you have any questions please contact our dedicated team by emailing hcp@symprove.com.
Terms & Conditions
50% off the first 3 months of a flexible subscription of Symprove for new UK customers only. Eligible on a flexible subscription (offer price £24.99, full retail price £49.99). Flexible subscriptions can be cancelled at any time. Offer lasts from 10am 08/03/2023 to midnight 30/04/2023. Click here for full Terms and Conditions.
FEATURED BSLM EVENTS
Head to the dedicated BSLM events page for the full list of upcoming events
Next BSLM Annual General Meeting
Monday 3rd April | 7-8pm
The BSLM Annual General Meeting (AGM) is taking place in Edinburgh on 3rd April at 7pm. Further details regarding the venue and agenda will be released in due course.
If you have any questions, do get in contact with us (office@bslm.org.uk).
March Webinar
The next BSLM webinar is taking place on Tuesday 21st March and will feature talks from Professor Rob Thomas, Izabella Natrins and Faye Hall. This webinar is only accessible to current BSLM members.
Webinar Topics
Professor Rob Thomas
Insomnia - The evidence for lifestyle and nutritional strategies
Izabella Natrins and Faye Hall
Using a Health Coaching Approach to Open a Lifestyle Medicine Consultation
Join us in ‘Find Your Healthy Week’ 16 – 23 March
We all have the power to make a difference to our health and wellbeing and it’s never been more important to start taking action now.
Our lifestyle, habits and behaviours around what we eat, how we move, sleep, rest, manage stress and engage with our family, friends and community can support or undermine our health. It’s the small things we do day-in-day-out day that over time, really matter to our health.
Making healthy changes can be easy with small, with consistent steps, which we can build up to the big, sustainable win: your better health!
BSLM Regional Meet: Walk on the Wirral
Saturday 22nd April | 2pm | Elephant Lounge, Parkgate
Members, and their Colleagues from the North West of England are invited to join us for a walk on the Wirral at 2pm on Saturday 22nd April for a 1hr walk and chat around lifestyle medicine and how we can help our communities on Wirral.
We'll meet outside the Elephant Lounge in Parkgate (Hamilton House, The Parade, Parkgate, Neston CH64 6SB)
All HCP/Non members welcome
DAUK Conference and Exhibition
Sat 22nd April | 8am - 5pm | London
DAUK are pleased to announce their first ever conference and they would love for you to attend! They have chosen the theme "Dehumanisation". The Doctors’ Association UK Inaugural one day conference is for those interested in understanding the complexity of the NHS workforce crisis, this can be doctors nurses to NHS managers
BSLM Members get £5 off the virtual price (£25 instead of £30) for virtual tickets and a 30% discount on the face to face ticket. To receive these discounts, use the appropriate discount code below at checkout
Other Events
BSLM 2023
First 2 BSLM 2023 Abstracts Submitted!
We are delighted that the first two abstracts for our conference this September have been submitted already, by Callum Leese and Mariana Sousa. Have a read of what their abstracts are about below:
Name: Callum Leese
Title: Implementation Evaluation of Scotland's First Green Prescription Service: A Prescribers Perspective
'After a such positive experience last year, being inspired by other projects and ideas, I wanted to share my findings from this recent audit of Scotland first green health prescribing programme. I wanted to share this for several reasons: stimulate ideas in others, share feedback on the challenges and engage in conversation to try and improve this service. As BSLM attendees we are all striving for the same goal, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients through lifestyle changes, hence my wish to share my learnings!'
Name: Mariana Sousa
Tittle: Physiotherapists’ Perceptions of the Influence of Their Health Behaviours on Their Advice to Patients
‘This was my master's dissertation project which was created in memory of my father who passed away from cancer. I decided to submit it because I do believe that is research that filled a literature gap on a topic that is not well studied, yet. (I hope I will be able to share my findings at the conference with all my colleagues, which professionally would be a great achievement for me and in a way I know that I will make my father proud!).’
Want to submit an abstract for #BSLM2023? See below
BSLM LEARNING ACADEMY
Did you Know?
We have close to a 50/50 split of microbial and human cells! The Gut Microbiota encompasses the trillions of microorganisms residing in your gut that have profoundly impacted your development, physiology, and health since the day you were born and will continue to do so throughout your lifetime.
As an HCP, LM Practitioner, allied health professional, scientist, interested layperson or human being you cannot afford NOT to know about the Gut Microbiome!
NHS NETWORKS
Dealing with difficult situations
Have you ever found yourself worrying before a meeting or conversation? We’ve probably all been in that situation, you know the one where you would rather be doing anything else.
The blog this week is by Professor David Colin-Thomé who is considering the future for general practice and in particular possible employment models for general practitioners.
he blog for this week shares tips on managing a huge workload by Professor Mike Ferguson who is a PCC associate.
Email us - office@bslm.org.uk
