Lifestyle Medicine

Overview

Lifestyle Medicine it is defined as the integration of modern lifestyle practices into evidence-based medicine while incorporating health promotion, non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and chronic disease management Lifestyle Medicine applications aim to drastically reduce the growing and unviable costs of the health system, to lower NCD risk factors or to provide support for chronic therapies. By offering a cost effective, sustainable approach this field of studies provides feasible tools, useful for every specialty of healthcare professionals including the means of motivating and educating patients in improving their quality of life and sustaining healthy behaviours.

This Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program aims to provide specialized knowledge and a rigorous, comprehensive and balanced training in the developing interdisciplinary field of Lifestyle Medicine. 

Students will gain an advanced under- standing and awareness of this field of medicine that addresses research, prevention, treatment, and amelioration of pathology caused by various emerging issues and lifestyle factors.

• The Lifestyle Medicine programme from University of Thessaly  focuses on upskilling qualified scientists with key competencies on the prevention and management NCDs through the main pillars of Lifestyle Medicine. These comprise physical activity, appropriate nutritional strategies, stress management, behavioural change, sexual health, restorative sleep and psycho-emotional resilience, as well as addressing risky or self-destructive behaviours, including the consumption of tobacco products, alcohol or drug abuse.

• Lifestyle Medicine is an exciting new approach for change and transformation in health, healthcare, society and the environment. Ιt is defined as the integration of modern lifestyle practices into evidence-based medicine while incorporating health promotion, non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and chronic disease management Lifestyle Medicine applications aim to drastically reduce the growing and unviable costs of the health system, to lower NCD risk factors or to provide support for chronic therapies. By offering a cost effective, sustainable approach this field of studies provides feasible tools, useful for every specialty of healthcare professionals including the means of motivating and educating patients in improving their quality of life and sustaining healthy behaviours.

• The MSc modules will broaden students’ understanding of key areas, issues and challenges that emerge within the health and care sector. At the end of the course, students will be able to critically appraise aspects related to lifestyle changes and be capable of identifying, assessing, referring to appropriate health care providers and proposing treatment interventions for environmental, lifestyle, psychological and biological health risk factors. 
• Additionally, the program will equip its graduates with enhanced critical and evaluative awareness and strong leadership and communication skills. These will enable them to deliver effective counselling in promoting a healthy lifestyle and helping individuals to change and improve their health and the quality of their everyday life. Moreover, by targeted capacity building, graduates will be empowered to lead in their respective professional fields towards a sustained NCDs advocacy.

Career

• Leadership positions in medical, nutrition, exercise, health counselling or health policy sectors with a focus on health promotion.
• Private Lifestyle Medicine practice, Consultation and Health Coaching
• First step towards an academic / research career in medical or health sciences