What Is Lifestyle Medicine and Why It Matters Now
Dr. Angie Aboutalib MD, DipABLM
August 14th, 2026
Lifestyle medicine uses evidence-based therapeutic lifestyle interventions to help prevent and treat chronic conditions. In selected conditions and with sufficiently intensive, medically supervised care, remission may be possible for some patients.
Care commonly addresses nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, social connection, and avoidance of risky substances. Outcomes vary, and lifestyle medicine complements—not replaces—appropriate medical evaluation and treatment.
Source: American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced MAHA ELEVATE, a voluntary three-year Innovation Center model intended to test whole-person functional and lifestyle medicine approaches in Original Medicare.
The funding notice describes small-scale tests designed to build evidence about feasibility, impact, scalability, health outcomes, and costs. It does not establish a new industry standard, create a new Medicare coverage category, or endorse any specific medical practice.
Source: CMS MAHA ELEVATE funding notice.
