Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group (LMIG) Events Analysis

Abstract

Lifestyle Medicine Interest Groups (LMIG) have grown substantially since 2008, with 165 LMIGs established across the U.S. as of June 2024. The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) supports LMIG establishment within academic and health system settings, providing opportunities for students, faculty, and employees to learn about and practice lifestyle medicine (LM). A cross-sectional survey containing multiple-choice and free-text questions was administered continuously to established LMIGs between March 2020 and May 2023. Descriptive statistics were generated to note the number of unique institutions, median number of events, event attendance, and frequency of event types. Thematic analysis was conducted for all free-text sections of the survey. Data from 1,062 LMIG events across 127 unique institutions with a total of 29,689 attendees was analyzed. Each institution had a median of 5 events with a median of 16 attendees. Lectures, group physical activities, and board meetings were most common. Quantitative findings reveal substantial growth among LMIG events, expansion across geographic locations, and insights into funding sources. Nutrition and physical activity were most frequently highlighted, while social connection, sleep, and avoidance of risky substances were least represented. LMIGs are growing in number and size, empowering future health professionals through LM awareness.

Keywords: community events; lifestyle medicine; medical education; medical students; student leadership.

Figure 1.

Established LMIG growth chart.

Figure 2.

Geographic distribution of LMIG events and participant distribution of LMIG events.

Figure 3.

Distribution of LMIG event type and representation of the ACLM pillars.