By Wumi Tewogbade, ABUJA

Experts in the health sector have identified therapeutic lifestyle changes across the core domains of nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, social connection, and avoidance of risky substances is foundational to the treatment and prevention of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs).

This was agreed at the 7th annual international scientific conference, organized by the Society Of Lifestyle Medecine Of Nigeria (SOLONg) in Abuja.

The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Bridge the Health Gap With Lifestyle Medicine: Live Well, Live Longer’.

President of SOLONg, Dr. Moyosore Makinde, lamented that in Africa and Nigeria NCDs, like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cancers, mental health disorder, have continued to rise and most of these diseases are caused by lifestyle, which include, unhealthy diets, sedentary living, chronic stress, sleep deprivation, harmful addictions and social disconnection.

She however stressed that lifestyle medicine is not supplementary healthcare , it is foundational. And this is built on nutrition, physical activities, restorative sleep, stress management, healthy social connection and avoidance of risky substances .

She said, “It offers scientifically proven strategies to prevent treat and in many cases reverse chronic diseases”.

She stressed that physical activity was necessary for a healthier life,
“So, we were made to walk, we were not made to drive. So you can actually park your car some distance from your workplace and walk the rest of the way. Or if you’re in a city where there are so many cars, you might not even be allowed to enter the city center with your car, and so you have more opportunity to walk.

“You can walk around your house, because I know that security is another issue that many of us have. You don’t want to be picked up on the way when you’re going for your exercise. So walk in your compound”, she advised

Speaking on the theme, the Founding President and Chairman of SOLONg, Dr. Ifeoma Monye noted that a healthy life should be hinged on six pillars; nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, social connection, and avoidance of risky substances.

On nutrition, she emphasized that Nigerians should cut down on over processed foods and animal protein but rather replace them with vegetables and plant protein. She uged them to plant what they eat, so they can always have fresh vegetables at all times.

“Every pillar is important, however, there are some low-hanging fruits among the pillars. For example, if we talk about diet and nutrition, and they should eat more vegetables, and you say, oh they are very expensive in the market, plant your own garden in your home.

“Relationships is another low-hanging fruit. Make peace with everyone. Don’t carry grudges”, she said.

According to SOLONg, Nigeria is facing a rising epidemic of NCDs like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and chronic respiratory conditions

They noted that these conditions now account for nearly a third of all deaths in the country, with the numbers increasing every year.

“But we must be clear: these diseases are not inevitable. They are driven, in large part, by modifiable lifestyle behaviours: poor diet quality, physical inactivity, insufficient sleep, unmanaged stress, weak social
support, and harmful substance use. Treating symptoms alone is no longer enough. Nigeria cannot “treat” its way out of the NCD crisis. We must address the root causes”, they said.