Time for Lifestyle Medicine to Take Injury Prevention Seriously

Abstract

Over 2 decades ago, the United States National Academy of Sciences described injuries as “the most under-recognized major public health problem facing the nation.” Our progress since then has been limited. Injuries still account for nearly 1 out of every 10 deaths in the world, and the global burden of injury is projected to increase over the next decade, predominately in low- and middle-income countries. Despite this, injury prevention receives scant attention from legislators, the education system, and, most strikingly, the health care system. The lifestyle medicine community, however, is beginning to focus on injury prevention and will play an increasing role in helping control the burden of injury. Lifestyle medicine practitioners are in a tremendous position to promote injury prevention. Physical activity and positive lifestyle changes can be accompanied with an increased focus on preventing injury. Lifestyle medicine can prevent injuries by supporting legislation, advancing medical advocacy, providing community education, and linking clinical care with injury prevention.