Global health leaders unite to \u201cturn the tide\u201d on chronic diseases through Lifestyle Medicine
\n ISLAMABAD
\nThe 6th International Conference on Lifestyle Medicine (ICLM 2025) commenced today at the Highland Country Club & Resort, Islamabad, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan\u2019s journey toward a preventive, compassionate, and sustainable healthcare system.
\nJointly organized by the Pakistan Association of Lifestyle Medicine (PALM) and the Riphah Institute of Lifestyle Medicine (RILM) , the three-day international summit revolves around the theme \u201cTurning the Tide on Non-Communicable Diseases \u2013 A Whole-Person Approach.\u201d
\nThe conference brings together national and international thought leaders, physicians, researchers, and policymakers dedicated to transforming health systems through evidence-based lifestyle interventions that prevent, treat, and even reverse non-communicable diseases (NCDs)\u2014the leading cause of global mortality.
\nThe inaugural ceremony was graced by Syed Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, and Dr. Rizwan Taj, President, Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) , alongside senior representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), academia, and medical institutions across the region.
\n\u201c Lifestyle Medicine is not an alternative\u2014it is the foundation of sustainable healthcare,\u201d said Dr. Beth Frates, Chair of the Riphah Institute of Lifestyle Medicine and a global pioneer in the field. \u201cThrough science, compassion, and collaboration, we can redesign healthcare to help people live longer, healthier, and more purposeful lives.\u201d
\nHighlighting the government\u2019s growing commitment to preventive health, Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal shared that the philosophy of Lifestyle Medicine deeply resonates with him. \u201c We must move from a \u2018sick care\u2019 system to a \u2018health care\u2019 approach. Lifestyle Medicine offers a clear path forward to build a healthier nation, \u201d he emphasized.
\nReflecting its \u201cwhole-person\u201d philosophy, ICLM 2025 integrates science with wellbeing\u2014offering plant-based meals, meditation and mindfulness sessions, and discussions on digital health, sleep, and behavioral change. The program includes plenary talks, workshops, and research presentations focused on nutrition, movement, emotional resilience, and social connection as the pillars of a healthier society.
\nDelegates from the United States, United Kingdom, UAE, and across Pakistan are collaborating on research, training, and advocacy initiatives to strengthen preventive medicine and medical education across South Asia. The event will conclude with the \u201cIslamabad Declaration\u201d\u2014a set of recommendations to integrate Lifestyle Medicine into primary healthcare, policy, and medical curricula nationwide.
\nA special Gala Dinner and Retreat will celebrate community, empathy, and the shared vision of advancing the social and emotional dimensions of wellbeing.
\n\u201cICLM 2025 is not just a conference\u2014it\u2019s a movement toward a more compassionate, community-centered model of healthcare,\u201d said Dr. Shagufta Feroz, Director of RILM. \u201cWe hope every attendee leaves inspired to become an agent of change in their own communities.\u201d
\nWith PALM leading advocacy, training, and education, and RILM pioneering clinical integration and academic innovation, Pakistan continues to emerge as a regional hub for Lifestyle Medicine\u2014redefining health as not merely the absence of disease, but the presence of vitality, purpose,\u00a0and\u00a0connection.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Global health leaders unite to \u201cturn the tide\u201d on chronic diseases through Lifestyle Medicine ISLAMABAD The 6th International Conference on Lifestyle Medicine (ICLM 2025) commenced today at the Highland Country Club & Resort, Islamabad, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan\u2019s journey toward a preventive, compassionate, and sustainable healthcare system. Jointly organized by the Pakistan Association […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":510692,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-510667","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n