The Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg) is to hold its third conference which will focus on ways to address the double burden of diseases in Africa using lifestyle medicine approaches.
READ ALSO: TETFund funds four Nigerian agencies to manufacture medicines
The President, SOLONg, Dr Ifeoma Monye, founder of the first Lifestyle Medicine centre in Africa, said that LifeStyle Medicine is the new era of medicine globally.
“Healthcare approaches must now be applied with specific considerations made to the long-term, taking to note that unhealthy lifestyle choices would ultimately impact sustainable living negatively”. Dr. Monye said.
She said that Lifestyle Medicine is a healthcare approach that adopts fact-based behavioral changes to prevent, treat, manage, and reverse chronic diseases related to lifestyle choices.
“The new medical approach advocates for therapeutic approaches to sustainable living built on the pillars of proper nutrition, effective stress management, sleep, avoidance of harmful substances, consistent physical activity, and social connectedness“. She said.
Dr. Monye also said that the conference would educate and spread awareness on the new specialty of Lifestyle Medicine which would help individuals, families, and communities adopt healthy lifestyle choices, such as whole food plant-based nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, thriving social connections, and stress management in the country.
She noted that presentations would investigate more closely how lifestyle medicine can help mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic and obesity management and look at the business side of lifestyle medicine in the region.
The President added that lifestyle medicine was emerging as the fastest-growing branch of medicine around the world.
She also said that SOLONg has had its impact felt both in Nigeria and Africa.
“One of the things so important to mention is the training of health care professionals. The society has also trained medical personnel from South Africa, Egypt and Rwanda. We have not only impacted Nigeria but Africa, and that’s so exciting to us“. Dr Monye noted.
She advised that “we need to pay serious attention to to lifestyle medicine as it has the potential to boost the immune system against severe effects of diseases.
He added that lifestyle can not take the place of COVID-19 vaccine but can help keep people in better shape to knock off infections.
The Vice President of SOLONg Dr. Charles Cudjoe, said that the conference would give out quality concept as regards to lifestyle medicine.
On her part, the Dietician of the association, Mrs. Chioma Mniriukwu, stressed that healthcare is no longer about diet, but sleep, exercise and eating healthy plant based foods.
“The theme of this year’s conference is “Addressing the Double Burden of Diseases in Africa: The Challenges and the Lifestyle Medicine Solutions
Sub-themes:
Mitigating COVID-19 Pandemic with Lifestyle Medicine Solutions.
The Place of Sustainable Behavioural Change in Obesity Management
The Business of Lifestyle Medicine
SOLONg founded in 2017, is the first medical professional association in Nigeria representing physicians, medical and healthcare professionals who are dedicated to the advancement and practice of Lifestyle Medicine.
