Chapter 4 - Understanding the Evidence Base

Summary

Lifestyle Medicine is a practice grounded in evidence-based approaches, distinguishing it from unverified commercial wellness trends. It requires practitioners to critically interpret the evolving evidence base and communicate risks effectively to support shared decision making. While clinical trials for Lifestyle Medicine are less common than for pharmaceuticals, its interventions are nonetheless impactful and often preferred by patients. Epidemiology plays a crucial role in identifying associations between exposures and outcomes, although it cannot always establish causality. Understanding and communicating risk is vital, with absolute and relative risks offering different insights into the potential effects of interventions. The interpretation of evidence must consider both statistical and clinical significance, with confidence intervals providing a more nuanced understanding than p-values alone. Scepticism is necessary when interpreting clinical research to account for potential biases and confounding factors. Ultimately, consensus-driven approaches and trusted institutions guide practitioners in integrating Lifestyle Medicine into broader treatment guidelines.