Lifestyle medicine is an evidence-based discipline focused on preventing and treating non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, certain types of cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders, by managing an individual’s daily habits like diet, exercise, sleep, stress, and substance use, including smoking and alcohol consumption. NCDs are the leading cause of illness and death, accounting for approximately 41 million deaths annually or about 71% of global mortality The urgency for effective lifestyle interventions is greater than ever; the World Health Organization estimates that around 80% of NCDs cases could be prevented by eliminating certain lifestyle risk factors.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform the use of lifestyle medicine in healthcare in several ways. First, AI can enhance lifestyle medicine through personalized health recommendations. Traditionally, healthcare providers have relied on population-based guidelines that may not be suitable for everyone, as they fail to consider individual genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. AI algorithms can analyze extensive data from sources like electronic health records, wearable devices, and social media to create a detailed profile of a person’s health, offering customized lifestyle recommendations based on each patient’s unique needs and preferences.
Second, AI can aid in the early diagnosis and prevention of NCDs by analyzing patient data from medical images, lab results, and reported symptoms to detect patterns indicative of early disease stages. This allows healthcare providers to intervene sooner and implement lifestyle changes to prevent disease progression.
Finally, AI can significantly enhance patient engagement and adherence to lifestyle interventions. AI-driven applications, such as chatbots or virtual health coaches, provide personalized support and motivation, helping individuals maintain their health goals. These tools can also track a patient’s progress and offer real-time feedback to healthcare providers, allowing them to adjust recommendations as needed.
In summary, healthcare professionals are encouraged to use AI tools in lifestyle medicine to provide more personalized, efficient and effective care, remain competitive in a rapidly evolving field and contribute to public health efforts. AI improves every aspect of patient management, from early diagnosis and prevention to ongoing support and engagement, making it a critical skill for modern healthcare professionals.
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References – Research articles:
- Sosa-Holwerda A, Park OH, Albracht-Schulte K, Niraula S, Thompson L, Oldewage-Theron W. The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Nutrition Research: A Scoping Review. Nutrients. 2024;16(13):2066. doi: 10.3390/nu16132066.
- Cho JS, Park JH. Application of artificial intelligence in hypertension. Clin Hypertens. 2024;30(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s40885-024-00266-9. PMID: 38689376; PMCID: PMC11061896.
- Khokhar S, Holden J, Toomer C, Del Parigi A. Weight Loss with an AI-Powered Digital Platform for Lifestyle Intervention. Obes Surg. 2024 May;34(5):1810-1818. doi: 10.1007/s11695-024-07209-1.
- Modi, K., Singh, I. & Kumar, Y. A Comprehensive Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Techniques for the Prediction and Prognosis of Lifestyle Diseases. Arch Computat Methods Eng, 4733–4756 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11831-023-09957-2
- Kuwabara A, Su S, Krauss J. Utilizing Digital Health Technologies for Patient Education in Lifestyle Medicine. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2020;14(2):137-142. doi:10.1177/1559827619892547
