During the American College of Lifestyle Medicine's (ACLM) 2024 annual conference, Nathan Pritikin, founder of Pritikin, was honored as the 2024 ACLM Lifetime Achievement Award winner. After attending the full event, I took some time to reflect on Nathan's legacy and in the process, noted how his vision continues to lead the lifestyle medicine conversation.
Imagine a room filled with over 4,000 healthcare professionals, all dedicated to the same vision: promoting longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives through lifestyle medicine. This was the scene at LM2024, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine's annual conference held in Orlando, FL, from October 27-30. The energy was palpable. These healthcare professionals stood out to me not only because they firmly believe in the power of lifestyle medicine but because they lead by example, embodying the healthy habits they advocate. Here’s a look into the dynamic movement that’s reshaping healthcare, one lifestyle choice at a time.
Celebrating 20 years in 2024, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) is a professional society for physicians and healthcare professionals committed to empowering patients to restore their health and treat and reverse the chronic cycle of lifestyle-related diseases. Key initiatives include promoting Food as Medicine, achieving Type 2 Diabetes Remission, advancing Health Equity, and more.
This year’s conference highlight was a tribute to Nathan Pritikin, founder of Pritikin, who was honored with ACLM’s Lifetime Achievement Award. A true pioneer in lifestyle medicine, the results of the Pritikin Program are published in over 100 studies in top medical journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, Archives of Internal Medicine, and Circulation. His groundbreaking work profoundly influenced Dr. Michael Greger, creator of nutritionfacts.org to pursue medicine. Dr. Greger’s own journey was inspired by his grandmother, who, after being given a terminal diagnosis at 65 due to severe heart disease, followed the Pritikin eating plan and extended her life by 28 years, motivating her grandson to pursue medicine.
Photo caption: Cindy Berner, standing on the far right, poses for a photo as she accepts the Nathan Pritikin Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf. Watch a clip from the award cerimony along with Cindy's acceptance speech at the end of this article.
At the ACLM conference, I spoke with many physicians seeking ways to provide lifestyle medicine education to their patients. The challenge is finding an approach that is both evidence-based and reimbursable by Medicare and other insurance providers. Pritikin’s Intensive Cardiac Rehab (ICR) service line meets both these needs. Supported by over 100 peer-reviewed studies, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have approved Pritikin’s lifestyle education curriculum for use in cardiac rehab, ensuring patients receive credible, covered care.
Photo Caption: Cindy Berner and Jason Bole speak to people visiting the Pritikin booth at the 2024 ACLM conference
Traditional Cardiac Rehab vs. Intensive Cardiac Rehab
Traditional cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a medically supervised, 36-session treatment program for patients with cardiovascular disease designed to promote optimal recovery after a cardiac event or procedure and to reduce the risk for future cardiac events. As a class 1a recommendation, its results have been proven through decades of research. While cardiac rehabilitation programs do offer patients some instruction on the impact of lifestyle factors such as diet and stress management as they relate to cardiac recovery, exercise is the primary focus..jpg?width=313&height=235&name=ACLM_BreakfastSession_Bole_Berner_2024_1%20(1).jpg)
However, Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation programs, such as that for which Pritikin received CMS approval in 2010, take recovery a step further. Pritikin ICR features the same 36-session exercise regimen as traditional CR, plus 36 education sessions which address the key components of a healthy lifestyle – exercise, nutrition, and mind-set – for a total of 72 sessions. This comprehensive approach equips patients with the tools and knowledge they need for success, both during cardiac rehabilitation and long after the program is complete.
Photo Caption: During the conference, Cindy Berner and Jason Bole led a breakfast session titled "Implementing Lifestyle Medicine with Intensive Cardiac Rehab A Sustainable Approach to Improving Patient Outcomes" where they highlighted the Pritikin ICR curriclum's emphasis on lifestyle medicine.
Lifestyle Medicine for Disease Prevention
According to the Cleveland Clinic, 90% of heart disease is preventable through healthier diet, regular exercise, and not smoking. Additionally, a study in the American Cancer Society's journal found that approximately 40% of new cancer cases and nearly half of cancer deaths are linked to preventable risk factors. In other words, genetics does not solely dictate our health outcomes.
Despite these powerful insights, most doctors receive minimal training in lifestyle medicine, including nutrition education. Many share that they didn’t fully grasp the impact of lifestyle interventions on chronic disease until they began incorporating lifestyle medicine into their practice.
As a registered dietitian for Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab (ICR), I am privileged to witness patient success stories daily. Whether patients are reducing disease risks, decreasing medication reliance, or gaining energy to play with grandchildren, it’s incredibly rewarding to see people reclaim their health and happiness.
