The science of Lifestyle

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the case of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease"

                        -Thomas Edison

Scientific evidence shows that significant health risk is associated with lifestyle factors.

1. INTERHEART Study:

A standardized case control study that evaluated patients with acute myocardial infarction from 52 countries.

The study identified nine significant worldwide risk factors for acute myocardial infarction: Smoking, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dietary pattern, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and psychological factors.

Five of the factors identified (smoking, lipids, hypertension, diabetes and obesity) accounted for 80% of risk for acute myocardial infarction.

All nine risk factors accounted for more than 90% risk factors for acute myocardial infarction in men and 94% in women.

2. INTERSTROKE Study:

A prospective case control study focused in determining stroke risk factors based on data from 32 countries.

Ten significant risk factors worldwide were identified for stroke: hypertension, current smoking, abdominal obesity, unhealthy dietary pattern, physical inactivity, diabetes, alcohol intake, psychological stress, depression, cardiac causes and high cholesterol. These lifestyle related risk factors were associated with 90% risk of stroke in men and women of all ages.

3. One evidence review (most recently updated in 2024) estimated that approximately 40 percent of dementia cases are attributable to the following modifiable risk factors: midlife hypertension, midlife obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, smoking social isolation, alcohol consumption, High LDL cholesterol in midlife.

4. In 2015, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimated that for every 50 grams of processed meat consumed per day, the risk of colon cancer increases by approximately 23 percent, and for every 100 grams of red meat consumed per day, it increases by approximately 22 percent.

5. In a cohort study of Swedish men, low aerobic capacity and muscle strength at 18 years of age was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes 25 years later, even among men with normal BMI.

Scientific evidence that shows significant benefits associated with lifestyle interventions:

1. A study of Asian youth, newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, found that intensive lifestyle therapy alone, or in combination with metformin, could be used to achieve reversal or partial remission of diabetes within 3 months and could be maintained during the 2-year follow-up.

2. The Jenkin's Portfolio Diet (very low saturated fat, based on whole-wheat cereals and low-fat dairy) showed similar cholesterol control with a low dose statin medication, without concerning side effects.

3. A 9-year longitudinal study of 1500 women with early-stage breast cancer demonstrated 50% reduced mortality in those who adhered to a high fruit and vegetable intake (5 servings per day) and a regular physical activity regimen (30 minutes, 5 times weekly) compared with those who did not.

4. In a meta-analysis of 10 cohort studies, walking at faster speeds was associated with a graded decrease in the risk of type 2 diabetes compared with easy/casual walking.

5. Dean Ornish Preventive Medicine Research Center: The Lifestyle Heart Trial consisting of low-fat vegetarian dietary pattern, stress management and exercise showed regression of cardiac stenosis at 1 year and continued improvement at 5 years.