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Lifestyle medicine delivers a therapeutic dose of evidence-based interventions—forming the foundation of effective, comprehensive obesity treatment.

Obesity is complex — and treating it takes more than a quick fix. Lifestyle medicine focuses on the root causes of weight gain and chronic disease by improving nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress, social connection, and reducing harmful substances. When used consistently and at the right intensity, these evidence-based changes can help people lose weight, improve health, and even reverse related conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Lifestyle medicine can work on its own or alongside medications and surgery, giving patients and clinicians a stronger, more complete path toward better health.

Joint Advisory

Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity

A joint Advisory issues by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society concludes that evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle strategies help address key challenges with GLP-1 obesity treatment, allowing clinicians to more effectively improve patient health.

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Master the science of lifestyle medicine

Evidence now shows that lifestyle medicine can play a central role in treating—and in many cases placing—obesity and overweight into remission. These CME/CE/MOC courses are designed to help clinicians understand the science behind remission, apply evidence‑based strategies, and build the clinical confidence needed to move from disease management toward health restoration.

Dosing of Health and Wellness Coaching for Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

1 HR CME/CE/MOC

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Calorie Density: A Simple Yet Powerful Approach to Weight Loss

1.25 HR CME/CE/MOC

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Nutrition for Treatment & Risk Reduction

1.5 HR CME/CE/MOC

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Physician Nutrition Advice & Referrals to Registered Dietitians

1 HR CME/CE/MOC

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Put learning into practice

Move beyond theory with practice‑ready tools that help clinicians implement remission‑focused care. From clinical guidelines to structured programs like shared medical appointments, these resources are designed to support real‑world application and sustainability.

Webinars

GLP-1s: Great Little Peptides -Clinical Use & Lifestyle Medicine Integration

In this webinar, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine brings together expert faculty to explore how pharmacologic and lifestyle interventions can work in tandem. Through evidence-informed insights and practical applications, this session highlights real-world approaches to combining GLP-1 therapies with behavior change strategies that improve outcomes and sustainability.

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A Patient-Centered Framework for Obesity Medication Management

Clinical Toolkit and Patient Handouts
This toolkit helps clinicians confidently navigate obesity medications in real-world practice, offering practical guidance from initiation through long-term management—all grounded in the six pillars of lifestyle medicine. It also includes patient-friendly handouts to support adherence and shared decision-making, with free access for ACLM members on Connect and public download coming soon.

Practical, clinician‑ready guidance across the full course of medication use—from initiation and titration to long‑term maintenance and, when appropriate, discontinuation.

ACLM Members: FREE   Non-Members:  $49

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Patient Decision Guide

A printable list of benefits, challenges, and questions to ask your clinician.

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Patient Decision Aid

A hands-on tool that explains what to expect, what helps, and when to connect with your clinician.

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Eating Well

How to protect your strength and energy levels when your appetite is low.

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Restorative Sleep

Proper and restorative sleep can effect how you feel day-to-day and how well you tolerate any side effects.

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Connectedness

Positive social connection without making food the center of every gathering.

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Movement as Medicine

A practical handout with several progressive activity suggestions to help build or maintain strength and balance.

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Avoid Risky Substances

Obesity management medications can change how your body handles alcohol and nicotine.

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Stress Management

Stress is normal, especially when you are trying to change your health. Adopt some simple habits to help you feel better.

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Podcast

Compassion, Evidence, and Systems Change with Sean Hashmi

In this episode, Sean Hashmi shares how he’s integrating lifestyle and obesity medicine into large health systems—showing why “quick fixes” fall short, how whole-person habits become tools for healing, and what it takes to help patients build sustainable change with hope and joy.

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Clinical Practice Guideline: Coming Soon

Lifestyle Interventions for Managing Obesity and Overweight in Adults 

Lifestyle medicine interventions and behavior change are foundational to obesity care, and numerous recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and other organizations encourage behavior therapy and/or intensive lifestyle interventions for obesity management. The American College of Lifestyle Medicine is developing a clinical practice guideline that will be the first to emphasize lifestyle interventions as the foundation of obesity management, focusing on all six pillars of lifestyle medicine and including strategies for behavior change. This guideline’s key action statements provide healthcare professionals with a practical roadmap for how to implement lifestyle change in their clinical practice for management of obesity. The guideline is being developed in collaboration with 16 other organizations!

Explore related insights

 The articles below explore the science and practitioner perspectives shaping a shift in obesity care—offering deeper context for clinicians and healthcare leaders seeking to advance remission‑focused practice.

Stethoscop and plush bunny on yellow background
Health Equity

When we know better, we do better: A tailored lifestyle medicine approach to pediatric obesity rooted in health equity

Lifestyle medicine can have significant impacts on pediatric obesity care when a personalized, culturally sensitive approach is at the core of family engagement and behavior change.

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Featured Articles

Obesity

Why lifestyle medicine is essential for people using obesity medications

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Optimal Nutrition

The benefits of plant-based nutrition: Obesity & weight management

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Clinical & Community Integration

Curbing childhood obesity one family habit at a time

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