The expanding role of lifestyle medicine in the Philippines – highlights from a recent review
The
Philippine healthcare system has traditionally focused on treating illnesses
instead of preventing them and promoting health. It currently faces the
challenge of managing both infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases
(NCDs). Palma et al. (2025) recently reviewed the history of lifestyle medicine
(LM) in the country and how this discipline is central to primary healthcare, especially
in addressing the growing NCD crisis. Recent legislative efforts under Republic
Act 11223, the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, have started shifting the focus
from reactive disease treatment to proactive prevention, led by the Philippine
College of Lifestyle Medicine (PCLM). As of 2024, Philippine Statistics
Authority reported 68 percent of annual deaths resulting from NCDs, which are
linked to lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diet, lack of exercise,
inadequate sleep, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking. [Am J Lifestyle Med
2025 Mar 15:15598276251326548]
