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Shortly after the onset of the pandemic, in June 2020, Washington University opened a center with an emphasis on the impact of everyday behaviors. The Living Well Center, based at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, is built around the value of lifestyle medicine, an area of health care in which “the momentum is really mounting,” says Dr. Devyani Hunt, the center’s medical director.
“What was seen previously as outside the scope of mainstream medicine is now widely viewed as the future of health care,” notes the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. According to the ACLM, the medical specialty uses “therapeutic lifestyle interventions as a primary modality to treat chronic conditions.”
The Living Well Center accepts patients with musculoskeletal issues such as spine problems and joint pain through referrals. During a six-month program (on average), patients make changes to their nutrition, activity, and other behaviors to improve overall health. “When patients come into the center, our goal is to understand what their goal is,” says Hunt. “We [then] have a very individualized plan to reach that goal.”
That plan typically includes a team of providers, including counselors, psychologists, dietitians, acupuncturists, massage therapists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists, among others. Together, the providers help patients achieve their goals, whether it’s something as simple as wanting to pick up a grandchild or as involved as preparing for surgery and recovery.
“As patients go through the program,” says Hunt,
“when we review goals, sometimes they end up saying, ‘I’m feeling so much better that maybe I don’t have to have surgery.’”
Hunt says the center’s main track is “overall health optimization, with lots of functional goals.” Lifestyle changes such as improved diet, smoking cessation, and activity help patients feel better for longer. And while Hunt notes that it can be challenging to make lasting lifestyle changes, the center’s patients are largely successful: Eighty percent of those who enter the program finish it; of those, 62 percent meet their goals—a high number among behavioral-change programs.
“It’s really exciting to see how many people are adding this to their way of practicing,” Hunt says of the rise in lifestyle medicine. “Some people are jumping in and doing it in a large setting, like the center, but others incorporate it into their day-to-day lives. Even just a little bit goes a long way.”
Six Pillars of Therapeutic Lifestyle Interventions
Nutrition: In particular, a whole-food, plant-predominant diet
Physical activity: Regular, consistent movement
Restorative sleep: Rest can improve attention span, mood, and insulin resistance, among other benefits.
Stress management: Developing strategies that can help lessen anxiety, depression, immune dysfunction, and more
Avoidance of risky substances: Such as not using tobacco or alcohol in excess
Positive social connections: Building relationships can benefit physical, mental, and emotional health.
Looking Forward
At 25, the Longer Life Foundation continues to fund key research.
“Nobody wants to live longer and not be well or enjoying it,” says Dr. Daniel Zimmerman, managing director of the Longer Life Foundation. “It’s got to be a healthy longevity.” With that idea in mind, the foundation was launched 25 years ago as a partnership between Washington University School of Medicine and the Chesterfield-based Reinsurance Group of America. Zimmerman describes its mission this way: To fund research that maybe wouldn't otherwise make it or get funded at the pilot and feasibility level. Over time, the partnership has helped fund research related to cancer, cardiovascular health, public health, gender-based studies, chronic disease—anything that falls under the realm of drivers of mortality and morbidity. These early projects can serve as proof of concept so researchers can take their projects to the next level with larger institutions, such as the National Institutes of Health. “The goal is to be well and live longer,” says Zimmerman, “and have very full lives.”
