KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) — As regional leaders convene for the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits here this week, the Malaysian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (MSLM) has urged Malaysia to use its ASEAN Chairmanship to champion Lifestyle Medicine as a core strategy in ASEAN’s fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
MSLM Founding President Dr Siva Poobalasingam said Malaysia’s leadership of ASEAN in 2025 offers an opportune moment to strengthen regional health cooperation as member states work to address rising rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other NCDs.
“As Chair of the Advisory Board of the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance, I believe Malaysia must lead ASEAN in integrating Lifestyle Medicine into public health policy — especially when NCDs account for about 62 per cent of deaths in the region,” he told Bernama.
He said Lifestyle Medicine — an evidence-based discipline that prevents and manages chronic diseases through healthy behaviour change — aligns closely with the ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda (APHDA) and the bloc’s emerging Post-2025 Vision, which prioritises health resilience and sustainable development.
“Lifestyle Medicine emphasises six pillars — a predominantly plant-based diet, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of harmful substances and positive social connections,” he explained.
Dr Siva said Malaysia’s success with the World Health Organisation (WHO)–Ministry of Health (MOH) pilot project on Lifestyle Medicine for Remission of Diabetes in Negeri Sembilan has positioned the country as a regional model for evidence-based intervention.
“The project combined clinical practice, training and policy development. It demonstrated how Lifestyle Medicine can be implemented within public primary care, and its framework could be adopted across ASEAN,” he said.
He added that MSLM has proposed the establishment of an ASEAN Centre for Lifestyle Medicine in Malaysia to support policy development, capacity building and the integration of Lifestyle Medicine into member states’ health systems.
Dr Siva said Malaysia’s efforts to position Lifestyle Medicine on the ASEAN agenda reflect the Summit’s broader theme of building a resilient, inclusive and healthy ASEAN Community.
The call coincides with the 5th Malaysian Lifestyle Medicine Conference, themed “Reimagining Mental Health with Lifestyle Medicine”, being held from Oct 27 to 29 in Kuala Lumpur.
The event brings together ASEAN and global experts to explore how Lifestyle Medicine can complement regional efforts in mental health and disease prevention under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship.
— BERNAMA