Lifestyle medicine in the prevention and adjunctive treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases

Abstract: Lifestyle medicine is a structured, evidence-based approach to the prevention and treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases. Available epidemiological, clinical, and meta-analytic evidence indicates that nutrition, physical activity, smoking avoidance, adequate sleep, stress management, and social connectedness collectively exert a major influence on morbidity and mortality. This narrative review aimed to summarise, on the basis of landmark studies and recent meta-analyses, the role of lifestyle interventions in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and selected malignancies. The available evidence suggests that lifestyle-oriented care is not merely a preventive strategy but also a therapeutically meaningful, cost-effective approach that is essential for the long-term sustainability of healthcare systems.