Lifestyle Medicine

Maine Medical Partners Lifestyle Medicine Offers Health Coaching and Group Medical Visit Options

By Amy Pearl, MA in Health and Wellness Coaching, BSN, RN, CHWC

Lifestyle Medicine is a medical specialty that uses evidence-based lifestyle interventions to treat, prevent, manage, and in some cases reverse chronic conditions such as: high blood pressure, obesity, high blood sugar, anxiety, and many other conditions. The goal is to provide a supportive environment where patients can learn lifestyle interventions through education and peer/provider support while working on health behavior changes. Lifestyle Medicine addresses: nutrition, physical activity, stress management, restorative sleep, social connection, and avoidance of risky substances.

Patients have the option of participating in Maine Medical Partners Lifestyle Medicine program, either in a virtual group setting or one-on-one. Each session is facilitated by a registered nurse/certified health coach and two primary care doctors with specialized training in lifestyle interventions, Dr. Katie Sharp and Dr. Ted Wissink..

According to Dr. Wissink: "I think this bias towards medications and procedures for chronic health conditions without even considering lifestyle treatment approaches is doing the patient and our system a disservice since behavioral approaches tend to come with substantially less side effects and costs compared with the conventional treatments, and tends to benefit several different chronic health issues at the same time."

The sessions are designed to help support patients through education and goal setting. If you’re interested in a referral, please discuss Lifestyle Medicine with your provider.

Katherine

MD

Theodore R

MD