LM2025 Annual Conference - LIVE CME/CE EVENT Register Today Learn More

Research, innovation & lifestyle medicine

Research and innovation are central to ACLM’s mission to make lifestyle medicine the foundation of health and healthcare. Our work drives the standards of the field and their integration into clinical practice. Grounded in evidence and continually evolving through discovery and testing, ACLM is actively forming the future of healthcare.

The strategic role of research in lifestyle medicine

Research provides the scientific validation behind the lifestyle medicine core competencies; informs board certification and training; guides standards of care and creation of clinical tools and assessments; and advances implementation models. It also functions as a continuous feedback loop to ensure clinical practice is aligned with the latest science and remains agile in today’s shifting healthcare landscape.

In collaboration with the medical community, we lead and support work across the following areas of focus:

Research & Publications

ACLM publishes and supports studies that evaluate the impact of lifestyle interventions on chronic disease. Peer-reviewed articles and white papers expand the evidence base and inform care. These resources are available to help drive adoption and improve outcomes.

Explore Resources

Validated Tools & Assessments

ACLM creates and curates tools to assess health behaviors, track clinical progress, and evaluate clinical performance. These tools support integration, behavior change, and quality improvement. While some are public, members receive expanded access.

Access Resources

Recommendations & Standards

ACLM develops clinical practice guidelines, consensus statements, and position papers to support consistent, evidence-based care. Most are open-access; members and partners gain deeper implementation support.

View Best Practices

Key topics and current projects

ACLM focuses on high-impact research topics that support mission advance:  

  • Disease remission and improved health outcomes  
  • Economic benefits and cost savings  
  • Patient and/or provider satisfaction

ACLM’s LEADR program is a 12-week lifestyle medicine intervention delivered in a shared medical appointment (SMA) model. It includes practical tools and a reimbursable step-by-step guide for clinicians to treat type 2 diabetes with a goal of disease remission. 

To access the LEADR materials, please complete the interest survey below for ACLM’s 2025 LEADR Pilot Study. You will receive a project description and template letter of support, and will then be asked to provide various information we would like to track from collaborating sites. On the “Thank You” screen, you will be able to download the full suite of LEADR Program materials.

Complete the survey

This case series explores how health systems are successfully integrating lifestyle medicine into care delivery. By identifying key success factors, common challenges, and lessons learned, the series aims to support broader implementation in various health system contexts.

Read the article

Since 2019, ACLM has offered a no-cost Culinary Medicine Curriculum to support understanding and implementation of culinary medicine approaches. This project aims to understand adaptations, challenges, and implementation methods to ensure the curriculum best meets the needs of users.

Read the article

Current work includes investigation into primary care providers’ use of lifestyle treatment with diabetes patients, related changes in patients’ glucose management, and resulting changes in prescriptions for glucose-lowering medications. Additional aims include developing a framework to identify cases of deprescribing and analyzing deprescribing protocols of lifestyle medicine providers.

Implementation Models

Discover what is working

ACLM collaborates with systems and clinics to showcase how lifestyle medicine is being applied in practice. Briefs, case studies, and presentation resources highlight scalable approaches. Members receive full access by specialty and setting.

Explore Implementation Briefs

The future of lifestyle medicine 

As the leading organization shaping the field of lifestyle medicine, ACLM continues to explore what’s next – testing models, strategies, and tools that will define the future of care.   

Innovators Council 

ACLM’s Innovators Council brings together health plans, ACOs, systems, and employers to accelerate the adoption of lifestyle medicine. Members collaborate on pilot projects, share insights, and translate knowledge into scalable solutions that advance the Quintuple Aim.

Learn More

Field Advancing Studies

In collaboration with our stakeholders and partners, ACLM is committed to unearthing and advancing insights that drive rapid acceleration of the field. We welcome organizations that are interested in co-creating pilot projects or studies that support systemic change and improve health outcomes.

Connect With Us

Program Certification 

ACLM formally recognizes leading treatment and education programs that align with lifestyle medicine standards. Certified programs follow structured protocols, undergo formal evaluation by experts, and deliver measurable outcomes in the clinical delivery of lifestyle medicine.

Learn More

Insights in action

Medication and diabetes supplies on a light blue background
Diabetes

Medication deprescribing protocols for type 2 diabetes

ACLM sponsored a qualitative study, published in Clinical Diabetes, presenting the first protocols to guide safe, effective deprescribing of type 2 diabetes medications after lifestyle medicine interventions.

Read More
Blog

Transforming healthcare with lifestyle and food as medicine: The impact of ACLM’s Essentials course

Learn More
Doctor writing on clipboard with produce and a tape measure on the table
Clinical & Community Integration

Expert consensus: Lifestyle medicine in primary care

Learn More
Groups of doctors in labcoats in a circle with hands in

Work with us to advance the field

Our team is actively seeking to advance pilot and demonstration projects that enhance the field. Learn about how we approach collaborative, field advancing projects.

Download Collaboration Guide