Conference Overview
In Lebanon, non-communicable chronic diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes) account for almost 70% of all deaths as per latest (2018) WHO Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) Country Profile (https://www.who.int/nmh/countries/lbn_en.pdf), and rank among the top five causes of premature deaths, and top three causes of death and disability combined in 2017 (http://www.healthdata.org/lebanon). Major controllable risk factors for these diseases have been established. They include smoking, unhealthy diet, harmful alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activity, overweight and obesity, lack of social support, and chronic high stress level, most of which relate to individuals’ lifestyle. Despite this knowledge, attempts at prevention or proper management of these risk factors among the Lebanese population at large have nearly been unsuccessful, in large part because of lack of sufficient education and practical training about the benefits and implementation of lifestyle medicine among professionals at the front line of health care delivery process.
This conference will serve as a platform to provide knowledge about lifestyle medicine, and explore possibilities of implementing lifestyle medicine in healthcare among healthcare practitioners. Empowering healthcare professionals to change their patients’ lifestyle to prevent disease and promote health will not only save lives and improve patient outcomes and quality of life, but will also provide huge benefits to the social and economic welfare of individuals.
Notwithstanding, holding this conference is highly in line with one or more of the strategic objectives of the two most recent disease prevention, control and treatment strategies of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in Lebanon. The first one is “Non Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Plan (NCD-PCP) Lebanon 2016-2020”, available online at https://www.moph.gov.lb/en/view/3691/non-communicable-diseases-prevention-and-control-plan-ncd-pcp-lebanon-2016-2020. The second one is “Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention, Promotion, and Treatment Strategy for Lebanon 2015-2020”, available online at https://www.moph.gov.lb/en/view/1645/mental-health-and-substance-use-prevention-promotion-and-treatment-strategy-for-lebanon-2015-2020.
Objectives of the Conference
- Describe and discuss what lifestyle medicine is about;
- Take a look at the scientific evidence of the benefits of lifestyle medicine in prevention and treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases;
- Survey methods essential for evaluating lifestyle-related factors and affecting healthy lifestyle behavior change in patients.
Target Audience
Primary care physicians, primary care network providers, nurses, allied healthcare professionals (dietitians, social workers, psychologists, health coaches, etc.), health educators, health researchers, and other health professionals.