Bringing Lifestyle Medicine to the NHS

Our mission

Floating avocado, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chili peppers, corn kernels, and basil leaves on a yellow background.

We believe lifestyle medicine should be a core part of NHS care—preventing and managing chronic diseases through evidence-based, sustainable lifestyle approaches. We aim to make Lifestyle Medicine accessible, scalable, and impactful within NHS settings and to be a powerful tool for reducing health inequalities.

Multiple hands touching a tree trunk in a forest.

Our approach

We work collaboratively with NHS organisations to provide tailored solutions, ensuring interventions are practical, sustainable, and free for patients at the point of care.

What is Lifestyle Medicine?

Illustration titled "What is Lifestyle Medicine" featuring six pillars: Physical Activity, Nutrition, Reduce Risky Behavior, Restorative Sleep, Social Connection, and Mental Wellbeing. Each pillar has accompanying simple sketches like a person exercising, food items, etc.

Lifestyle Medicine is an evidence-based medical specialty that empowers individuals to make sustainable behaviour changes across six key pillars of health—nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, social connection, and avoidance of harmful substances.

It also takes into account the broader social and environmental factors that influence health, known as the wider determinants of health.

By addressing the root causes of illness, Lifestyle Medicine offers a powerful approach to preventing, treating, and even reversing chronic diseases. In 2024, it was formally recognised by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) as a medical specialty supported by a robust and growing evidence base.

Our story

How it all started

A person speaking at a community health event, with attendees wearing shirts labeled 'Community Health Equity Champion.' The speaker is using a microphone and standing in front of a presentation slide that discusses various types of cancer, including early cancer diagnosis, breast cancer, cervical cancer, bowel cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer.
Illustration of diverse group discussing key themes in healthcare. Bubbles highlight ideas: "Holistic service," "Non clinical, minimal medical jargon," "Open to all within PCN," "Longer appointment," "Engaging underserved communities," "Culturally appropriate, personalized information and advice giving," "Open follow-up," "Optional tests," "Group work alongside one-to-one's."

Meet Camille – A GP on a Mission for Change…

…a dedicated GP with a passion for making a real difference in people’s lives. After completing her diploma in Lifestyle Medicine, she became deeply committed to bringing its benefits to the NHS—realising just how much it could improve her patients' health and well-being.

She saw Lifestyle Medicine as more than just a healthcare approach—it was a way to tackle health inequalities by offering personalised care that addresses the root causes of illness, not just the symptoms.

Community Co-design

To build a truly impactful and sustainable service in her North Lewisham community, Camille knew that co-designing it with local people was essential. By giving the community a voice, she aimed to create a service that truly met their needs—moving away from top-down healthcare decisions. She embraced the motto: "Nothing about me, without me!"

Key insights from the co-design process:

  • A non-clinical approach that feels welcoming and accessible.

  • Open to everyone within the PCN, with minimal exclusion criteria.

  • Longer follow-up support to ensure lasting impact.

  • A focus on reaching underserved communities and reducing health inequalities.

Infographic about Lifestyle Medicine Service with arrows pointing to Health & Wellbeing Coaches, 1-1 and Group Sessions, MDT and Referrals with Wider Team, Open to All, and 12 Week Program with Follow Up.

The North Lewisham Lifestyle Medicine Service

This service is run by health and wellbeing coaches and nutritionists - hired using the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) funding.

It utilises a mix of both group coaching (going through each pillar of lifestyle medicine) and one-to-one coaching (working on personalised and individual goals).

The average length of time within service is 12 weeks, with ability to drop back into group sessions post discharge.

The service was co-designed to be open to all adults within the Primary Care Network (PCN) (over 90,000 patients) with minimal exclusion criteria. However the service sends specifically targeted invites to people at risk of/living with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or at risk of health inequalities (using CORE20PLUS as a proxy for health inequalities).

Results

Infographic about service improvements, noting statistically significant results in BMI and weight, diabetes management, sleep quality, mental health, physical activity, and fruit and vegetable intake. It highlights personal testimonials about the service's accessibility and personal tailoring, with positive feedback on the coordinator, discussion groups, and individual sessions.

The North Lewisham Lifestyle Medicine Diabetes Service

Promotional flyer for North Lewisham Primary Care Network's Lifestyle Medicine Diabetes Service, featuring healthy foods, an older man sleeping, and two people exercising outdoors. Text details program benefits and registration information.

Building on the success of our Lifestyle Medicine Service, we’ve developed a tailored programme specifically for people living with pre-diabetes and diabetes.

This bespoke service offers both one-to-one and group sessions led by a qualified nutritional coach. While grounded in the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine, the sessions take a focused approach through the lens of diabetes management.

Patients have the opportunity to explore their meals in greater detail, gain a clearer understanding of glucose spikes and metabolic health, and receive personalised support. The service emphasises culturally appropriate, patient-centred lifestyle changes to help individuals improve glycaemic control and overall metabolic health.

To see more real-life results and projects, please see the Projects and Impact page.

Get started with Lifestyle Medicine Accelerator, today.