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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.

ACLM Position Statements

Lifestyle Interventions for Treatment and Remission of Type 2 Diabetes

ACLM’s first-of-its-kind clinical practice guideline puts lifestyle intervention at the forefront of diabetes care with a comprehensive roadmap for clinicians to incorporate therapeutic behavior interventions into everyday practice.

With more than half of U.S. adults affected by diabetes or prediabetes, this urgently needed guideline delivers clear, practical recommendations—including health behavior assessments, coaching strategies, and medication de-prescribing protocols—to empower clinicians and patients alike in achieving better outcomes through lifestyle medicine.

Available now: Earn 3.75 credit hours of CME/CE/MOC with the AJLM Article & Quiz!

Access the Supplement    Read Why this Matters

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.

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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.

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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 ACLM Position Statements

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. 

Access LEADR Materials

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Insights in action

Standards & Guidelines

New clinical practice guideline puts lifestyle interventions at forefront of diabetes care

The first-ever clinical guideline published by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine offers a comprehensive and evidence-based roadmap for clinicians to effectively incorporate therapeutic lifestyle behavior interventions as a mainstay of type 2 diabetes treatment.

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Featured Articles

Optimal Nutrition

ACLM releases updated dietary position statement 

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Standards & Guidelines

Practical strategies for using ACLM’s clinical practice guideline on lifestyle interventions to treat and prevent type 2 diabetes 

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Diabetes

Hope and healing: Type 2 diabetes remission with lifestyle medicine

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SMiling black doctor talking to patient

Work with us to advance the field

Is your organization leading research, pilot programs, or demonstration projects focused on implementing lifestyle medicine?

Explore how ACLM can support and strengthen your efforts.

ACLM is committed to supporting initiatives that advance the field. Our collaboration guide outlines how we can work together—offering key details on how to pursue joint projects, examples of field-changing efforts, and aligned funding opportunities.