Lifestyle medicine is a new way of looking at healthcare, an approach we at Sanctuary believe shows particular promise for the improved management of many of the health issues faced by individuals and communities in modern urban life.

Lifestyle medicine is based on the idea that medical practice should not be confined to the treatment of patients who already show symptoms of chronic disease. Rather, its scope should be widened to educate and skill patients before they experience disease.

Aiming to bridge the gap between clinical practice and public health, lifestyle medicine is defined as "the application of medical, motivational, behavioural and environmental principles to the management of lifestyle-related health problems in a clinical setting"¹

The approach recognised the true causes of chronic disease run far deeper than high risk factors or heredity tendencies, but is rather a cascade of diet and lifestyle choices, which are often by-products of a high paced urban life.

The multidisciplinary services and programs offered at Sanctuary are consistent with the reliance of lifestyle medicine on the engagement and participation of the patient, guided by their clinician and allied health professionals, as part of a coordinated healthcare team. We are dedicated to promoting a broader focus on disease prevention and reversal, believing so much more can be done than simply treating the symptoms of your disease or condition.

Consider our range of health and wellbeing services and wholistic health programs to see how our team at Sanctuary can become actively involved in your true health.

1. Egger G, Binns A, Rosser S. Lifestyle Medicine. Sydney: McGraw-Hill Australian, 2008.