at the end of the examination, they decided to create a resource that future candidates for this examination and indeed other Lifestyle Medicine examinations will use to make revision easier. In the course of securing a publisher and putting together the best possible book, they invited Dr Karen Adamson, Founding Director of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine and Dr Fraser Birrell, Founding Editor‐in‐Chief of the Wiley open access journal Lifestyle Medicine to co‐author.
We all want to thank the Chairman of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine and now President of the World Lifestyle Medicine Council, Dr Rob Lawson for reviewing the book, providing feedback, and his support of the MCQ Book.
We are all also grateful to Dr Lilach Maleskey, President of the Israeli Association of Lifestyle Medicine for reviewing the book and making very useful suggestions which has helped enrich the final product.
We appreciate the support from Stephan Herzog, the Executive Director of the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine and the useful suggestions he provided.
Finally, we are all indebted to our families who had to put up with the disruption caused by the long hours, days, weeks, months of preparation, while we researched, wrote, edited, and proofed this book. Without your support, patience and understanding, we may not have made it this far.
Foreword
Lifestyle as Medicine has never been so important, in the presence of the syndemic era of both infectious and chronic diseases. With the relatively recent arrival of a myriad of chronic diseases and the seeming difficulty of established health care to deal with them effectively, it is entirely appropriate to use Lifestyle Medicine to manage, reverse, and prevent the steady march of modern diseases around the world. Addressing the upstream causes, or metabolic inflammatory determinants of these diseases, is clearly the way ahead and is rooted in the accepted wisdom of evidence‐based science. These upstream determinants include social, environmental, economic, and more readily understood areas such as inactivity, poor nutrition, lack of emotional wellbeing, sleep disturbance, and exposure to toxic substances.
This very timely book will test you in some of these areas – and hopefully will encourage you to learn more about topics in which you feel less confident. And, in time, steer you towards seeking a solid qualified grounding in this effective and satisfying approach to health care. A meaningful biopsychosocial engagement with your patient or client will bear huge dividends not only for your patient or client, but also for the wider systems of health care in which you work.
So, enjoy working your way through this book of MCQs, learn lots from further reading of referenced material, and celebrate by introducing changes into your clinical or professional practice. A positive experience not to be missed!
Dr Rob Lawson FRCGP Dip IBLM/BSLM
Chairman, British Society of Lifestyle Medicine
President, European Lifestyle Medicine Council
Chairman, World Lifestyle Medicine Council
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine
Introduction
Lifestyle Medicine is a new and evolving speciality in Medicine. It is a distinct speciality aimed at treating the root cause of most chronic diseases using the strongest evidence‐based modalities available. Current approaches to medicine and health care offer inadequate solutions to the problems we face. Lifestyle Medicine seeks to address these issues to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and societies. This chapter covers the definition of Lifestyle Medicine and provides some questions to test candidates understanding of the difference between Lifestyle Medicine and other disciplines such as Conventional, Complementary, and Alternative medicine (CAM), and Integrative and Functional Medicine, to mention but a few.
1 Lifestyle Medicine is best defined by which of the following?A branch of alternative medicineA new field of medicine where lifestyle interventions are effective in the prevention, treatment and, rarely, reversal of diseasesEvidence‐based use of whole food, plant‐based dietary lifestyle, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of toxic substances such as tobacco and alcohol and supportive social connections for a healthy lifeThe application of medical, behavioural, motivational, and environmental principles in the management of lifestyle‐related health problems in a non‐clinical setting
2 Lifestyle Medicine is most appropriately described in which of the following ways?The integration of lifestyle practices into conventional medicine to lower the risk for chronic diseaseThe integration of lifestyle practices into conventional medicine to eliminate conventional medical practiceThe integration of lifestyle practices in the form of complementary therapyThe integration of lifestyle practices in the form of alternative therapy
3 Which of the following best describes the practice of Lifestyle Medicine?A practice that does not include medicationsA practice that involves environmental and dietary interventionsA practice where medications, rather than behaviour change, form a significant part of the managementA practice where self‐management is not an essential component
4 Which of the following is a major component of Lifestyle Medicine?Cessation of all medicationsOzone therapyPhysical activityUse of supplements
5 Which of the following best describes a key component of the practice of Lifestyle Medicine?Emphasis on diagnostic laboratory testsEmphasis on vitamin supplementsPharmaceuticals as first line of treatmentUse of whole food plant‐based nutrition
6 Which of the following best describes the place of coaching in Lifestyle Medicine?It is not an essential component in Lifestyle MedicineIt has not been found to be effective in depression managementIt can be used to improve personal lifestyle choices regarding weight management and physical activity or sleepThe coach prescribes the best management for the patient
7 Which of the following most closely describes the best practice in Lifestyle Medicine?Emotional wellness plays a minimal roleNutrition must follow a named diet to yield lasting resultsMedication remains the mainstay of managementSleep prescription is an important pillar in the management of many chronic diseases
8 Which of the following is most distinctive of Lifestyle Medicine practice?It places emphasis on behavioural changeIt places emphasis on non‐behavioural interventionsIt requires a multi‐professional teamThe doctor is the only important clinician in the team
9 Which of the following most appropriately describes a Lifestyle Medicine setting?Inpatient surgical care centrePrimary, secondary, or tertiary care clinics that incorporate group consultations in the management of their patientsSuper‐specialist
