Blue Zones, an organization that studies areas around the world where people live longer and happier lives, partners with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) to support education and certification for health care professionals.
“Blue Zone Certification” for physicians and health care workers would add another layer to ACLM accreditation, which already awards lifestyle medicine education centered on six pillars: a whole-grain, plant-based diet. work out, Sleep; Stress Management; Social Connection; Substance Abuse Prevention. New designations require prior certification by ACLM, American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM), or International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM). Announced on May 14th.
“ACLM and Blue Zones share a common vision of building healthier, stronger, more resilient communities,” ACLM Executive Director Susan Benigas said of the partnership.
“This will only happen if the physicians and health care professionals in those communities are trained in evidence-based lifestyle medicine clinical interventions and truly understand the principles of the Blue Zones,” says Benigas.
Blue Zones CEO Ben Riddle said Blue Zones has been a leader in improving wellness at the population level, which has not only created healthier, happier communities, but has also resulted in millions of dollars in healthcare savings, increased productivity, and local economic impact.
“Meanwhile, ACLM has been at the forefront of lifestyle medicine for the past 20 years, working to transform healthcare within the walls of hospitals and clinics,” Leedle said in a statement. “This partnership represents a paradigm shift, combining the power of lifestyle medicine with community-centered wellness improvements.”
Dr. Kerry Graff, a lifestyle medicine physician and medical director at the Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute in New York, said she was “excited” to learn about the ACLM and Blue Zones partnership. She plans to be among the first group of physicians to apply for the new certification.
“This is a really great powerhouse combo,” Graff said. “I see this as the next step that really needs to happen going forward. [lifestyle medicine] from now on.”
The graph says doctors know what it takes to improve their patients’ health, but they are up against a society that promotes bad habits rather than healthy ones.
“It makes a lot more sense to look at this issue at a broader level, at the community level, than it does to look at it at the individual patient level,” she said.
Research has long demonstrated that lifestyle choices can have a positive impact on long-term health and disease prevention. For example, a recent analysis found that genetic risk was associated with a 21% increased risk of death, while a “bad lifestyle” was associated with a 78% higher risk of death, independent of genetic factors.
A “favorable lifestyle” based on things like sleep, diet, and physical activity can offset genetic predisposition by up to 62%. Results.
The curriculum for the new certification is still in development but is expected to be available in 2025, according to Dr. Michelle Tollefson, a lifestyle medicine physician in Colorado and senior instructor at Blue Zone Education.
“The curriculum will build on what ACLM, ABLM, and IBLM physicians and health care professionals already know and provide to their patients,” Tollefson says. “They already have that foundation, but we’ve added Blue Zones research and a deep community focus. This will empower our lifestyle medicine physicians and health care professionals to have a broader impact in the community beyond the clinical setting.”
In addition to the new certification opportunity, Blue Zones is now an exclusive founding partner of the ACLM Center for Lifestyle Medicine Innovation, a new hub ACLM is establishing for research, innovation, thought leadership and knowledge sharing.
ACLM provides practice development consulting to health systems that integrate lifestyle medicine in Blue Zone communities, leveraging the University’s clinical practice tools and health system resources. Since 2021, 108 health systems have joined ACLM. Health Systems CouncilAccording to ACLM, it is a group of innovative health organizations in 37 states dedicated to providing high-value care through lifestyle medicine.
Physicians and health professionals interested in Lifestyle Medicine Certification can learn more here: ACLM website. Since 2017, the college has certified approximately 6,700 clinicians, including 5,000 physicians and 1,700 health care professionals.
Susan Benigas, ACLM’s Executive Director, talks about the Blue Zones partnership.
