The six pillars of lifestyle medicine
Food, movement, sleep, connection, risky substances and stress: what each area covers and where to start.
Lifestyle Medicine
Build healthier habits with lifestyle medicine
Food, movement, sleep and stress all play a role in everyday health. Explore how lifestyle medicine brings these habits into a structured approach alongside your medical care, and find out how to get started.
The approach
What lifestyle medicine means here.
Lifestyle medicine looks at the everyday patterns that can affect your health: what you eat, how much you move, how you sleep, how you cope with stress and who supports you. It sits alongside medical care and does not replace it.
There is no single starting point. For some people it is one small change. For others it starts with a physician reviewing symptoms or a long-term condition.
How it works
From first conversation to review.
- 01
Talk it through
You describe your concerns, health history and what you want to change.
- 02
Check if tests are needed
The physician decides whether an examination or investigations make sense before any lifestyle plan.
- 03
Agree a few practical changes
Changes are chosen to fit your health, routine and preferences, not a fixed programme.
- 04
Review and adjust
Progress is reviewed and the plan changes if something is not working.
Not everyone needs tests, and not everyone gets the same plan. The steps depend on your concern.
Explore further
Go deeper on lifestyle support.
Read about the six pillars
Daily habits
Six small actions you can try this week, without changing everything at once.
Healthy lifestyle coaching
Ongoing support to set goals, build routines and review how they are working.
Related services: Nutrition and Physician Consultation.
Common questions
Before you start
Does lifestyle medicine replace my medicines?
No. It works alongside medical care. Do not stop or change prescribed medicines without speaking to the clinician who prescribed them.
Do I have to change everything at once?
No. Most people start with one or two changes that are realistic for their routine and health, then build from there.
Where should I start if I have a health condition or symptoms?
Start with a physician consultation. It helps check whether your symptoms need assessment before you change your routine.
A place to begin
Not sure which change to start with?
Bring your questions to a consultation. The physician can help you pick a sensible first step for your health.
This page is general information, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Do not change prescribed treatment without speaking to your treating clinician.