How Occupational Therapy Helps Bring Lifestyle Medicine into Daily Life

Maria knew she needed to eat better and move more. Her physician had concerns about her Type 2 diabetes, weight, and declining quality of life.

However, knowing what to do was not enough.

Maria was a 52-year-old single mother of two teenagers who worked full time as a receptionist. Most evenings, she felt too tired to cook, walk her dogs, help her children with activities, or see friends. She spent hours watching television or scrolling through social media. Activities she once enjoyed had disappeared from her routine.

Her physician referred her to occupational therapy for Lifestyle Medicine services.

Heather Thomas, PhD, OTR/L, DipACLM, Program Director for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU), Whittier campus, sees cases like Maria’s as an example of the role occupational therapists can play in a growing area of healthcare.

“The U.S. is in a healthcare crisis,” Dr. Thomas said. “We are a sick care system, not a health care system.”

Lifestyle Medicine is a medical specialty that uses evidence-based lifestyle changes to prevent and manage chronic disease. In some cases, these changes can improve the course of the disease. The field focuses on six areas: nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, social connection, and avoiding risky substances.

Lifestyle Medicine does not reject medication or other medical treatment. It adds structured care for the daily factors that shape health.

Why Lifestyle Medicine Matters Now

Chronic disease continues to place heavy pressure on patients and the U.S. healthcare system.

A 2026 article co-authored by Dr. Thomas in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine reports that seven in 10 adults have at least one chronic condition. More than half of those adults have two or more. The article states that U.S. healthcare spending reached $4.9 trillion in 2024, with about 90 percent of spending tied to mental and physical chronic conditions.

Those numbers have placed greater attention on prevention and long-term health.

Lifestyle Medicine uses clinical tools to address health risks and support behavior change. Practitioners can assess lifestyle factors, set measurable goals, track progress, and adjust care over time.

The field often involves a team of healthcare professionals. Physicians can diagnose medical conditions and manage treatment plans. Occupational therapists and other health professionals can help patients put health goals into practice.

That distinction matters.

A patient may understand the need for more exercise but dislike gyms. Another may want healthier meals but work long hours. Money, family duties, transportation, stress, and living conditions can make change harder.

Occupational therapy brings those realities into the care plan.

How Occupational Therapy Turns Advice into Action

Occupational therapists study how health affects the activities people need and want to do.

In occupational therapy, “occupation” means the daily activities that give life structure and meaning. The term includes self-care, work, school, health management, rest, leisure, and social participation.

“OTs look at people from a very broad perspective,” Dr. Thomas said. “I’m going to look at you as a whole person, not just your body systems.”

An occupational therapist considers the patient’s home, work, family roles, interests, resources, and goals.

Helping Maria Rebuild Her Routine

Maria’s occupational therapist started by looking at how her health and daily activities affected each other. Together, they identified several areas for change.

Maria started a morning routine with light movement, such as walking her dog. She planned simple weeknight meals with her teenagers.

Her therapist helped her set SMART goals. Each goal was specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based.

The changes were gradual. Maria worked on goals that fit her schedule, energy, and family responsibilities.

Her care plan connected health goals with the parts of life she valued most. She wanted to spend more time with her children, care for her dogs, reconnect with friends, and feel more capable in her daily life.

Cooking became time with her children. Dog walks became part of her weekends.

Over time, Maria’s blood sugar improved. Her physician reduced her medication. Her mental health improved too.

Maria’s case shows how occupational therapy can help bridge the gap between medical recommendations and daily behavior.

It also raises another question: How should occupational therapy programs prepare students to do this work?

What Dr. Thomas’s Publication Adds to the Field

Dr. Thomas recently co-authored “Bridging Occupational Therapy and Lifestyle Medicine: How OT Education Equips Future Practitioners,” published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

The article argues that occupational therapy should play a direct role in Lifestyle Medicine.

The profession already addresses many areas tied to Lifestyle Medicine. These include health promotion, disease prevention, health management, habits, routines, social factors, and participation in daily activities.

The paper’s main contribution is a practical map for occupational therapy programs.

Dr. Thomas and her co-authors connect Lifestyle Medicine with the 2023 standards from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education and the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, Fourth Edition.

Those standards already call on OT programs to prepare students for health promotion, disease prevention, chronic condition management, and the effects of daily habits and environments on health.

The article explains how programs can teach Lifestyle Medicine through classroom instruction, fieldwork, and doctoral capstone projects.

Students can practice lifestyle assessments, motivational interviewing, SMART goals, case studies, and patient education. They can apply that training in primary care, mental health clinics, community programs, schools, and other settings.

The paper makes a broader argument about the future of the profession.

How SCU Prepares Students for This Work

Students in the program at SCU’s Whittier campus are introduced to Lifestyle Medicine during their first term, beginning with the six pillars: nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, healthy relationships, and avoiding risky substances.

“We have them reflect on each of the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine,” Dr. Thomas said. “They start by doing OT with themselves.”

By examining their own habits and experiencing the challenges of behavior change firsthand, students gain insight into the barriers their future patients may face.

Lifestyle Medicine principles are then reinforced throughout the OTD curriculum as students apply them to chronic mental and physical conditions across the lifespan. They also explore how family duties, finances, culture, living conditions, and support systems can affect a patient’s ability to make healthy habit changes.

SCU’s OTD program is part of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s partial academic pathway, allowing students to make progress toward Lifestyle Medicine board certification after graduation. Dr. Thomas, who is board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine, recently became chair of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s OT/PT Member Interest Group.

“Lifestyle Medicine fits so nicely, not only as a tool that occupational therapists can use, but also because SCU is a Whole Health institution,” Dr. Thomas said.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lifestyle Medicine?

Lifestyle Medicine is a medical specialty that uses evidence-based lifestyle changes to help prevent, manage, and, in some cases, improve chronic disease. It focuses on six pillars of health: nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, healthy relationships, and avoiding risky substances. Lifestyle Medicine works alongside medical care to help people build healthier daily habits that support long-term health.

How does occupational therapy support Lifestyle Medicine?

Occupational therapists help patients turn health recommendations into realistic daily routines. They consider each person’s home, work, family responsibilities, interests, and environment to create practical strategies that support healthy habits. This approach helps bridge the gap between knowing what to do and being able to make lasting lifestyle changes.

Why is Lifestyle Medicine becoming more important in healthcare?

Chronic diseases continue to account for a large share of healthcare costs and affect millions of Americans. Healthcare professionals are placing greater emphasis on prevention, behavior change, and long-term wellness. Lifestyle Medicine addresses many of the daily factors that influence chronic disease and supports patients in making sustainable health improvements alongside traditional medical care.

How does Southern California University of Health Sciences prepare occupational therapy students in Lifestyle Medicine?

Students in Southern California University of Health Sciences’ Doctor of Occupational Therapy program begin studying Lifestyle Medicine during their first term. They learn the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine, reflect on their own health habits, and apply these principles throughout the curriculum while studying chronic physical and mental health conditions. The program also participates in the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s partial academic pathway, allowing students to make progress toward Lifestyle Medicine board certification after graduation.

What makes occupational therapists uniquely qualified to help patients build healthy habits?

Occupational therapists are trained to understand how daily routines, environments, and meaningful activities influence health. Rather than simply recommending lifestyle changes, they help patients develop realistic plans that fit their individual goals, responsibilities, and circumstances. This whole-person approach allows patients to incorporate healthier behaviors into everyday life in ways that are practical and sustainable.