Lifestyle Medicine
- Home
- Services
- Lifestyle Medicine
Lifestyle Medicine at Stone Springs Family Medicine
We’re proud to offer Lifestyle Medicine, an evidence-based medical specialty that uses daily habits, not just medications, to prevent, treat, and even reverse chronic disease, across the Northern Virginia region. This service is exclusively offered at Stone Springs Family Medicine, part of the Fairfax Family Practice Centers network.
What Is Lifestyle Medicine?
Lifestyle Medicine focuses on addressing the root causes of chronic conditions instead of simply treating symptoms. It empowers individuals to make sustainable changes that support lifelong wellness.
Lifestyle Medicine is built on six foundational pillars established by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM):
- Whole Food, Plant-Predominant Nutrition
- Regular Physical Activity
- Restorative Sleep
- Stress Management
- Avoidance of Risky Substances
- Positive Social Connection
These pillars work together to restore the body’s natural ability to heal and function at its best.
Who Benefits from Lifestyle Medicine?
Lifestyle Medicine is effective for adults of all ages and backgrounds, whether you’re managing a chronic condition or simply want to feel your best. It can also help patients who:
- Are managing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, or heart disease
- Want to reduce their risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders
- Are seeking support for stress, anxiety, burnout, or sleep issues
- Want sustainable guidance for weight management and improved energy
- Prefer a preventive, whole-person approach to their care
Why Lifestyle Medicine Works
Lifestyle Medicine is rooted in decades of research showing that daily behaviors are powerful levers for health improvement.
Programs like these have demonstrated measurable benefits:
- Weight loss and improved metabolic health: Sustainable lifestyle changes can help patients lose 5–10% of their body weight, significantly reducing risk for diabetes and hypertension.
- Chronic disease prevention: Up to 30–50% of cancers are linked to modifiable lifestyle factors such as nutrition, physical activity, and substance use.
- Type 2 diabetes prevention and improvement: Lifestyle interventions can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58%, and in many cases, help patients reduce medications or reach remission.
Lifestyle Medicine is not a diet, a fad, or a restrictive program; it’s a therapeutic, clinically guided approach to long-term wellness.
What to Expect During Your Visits
Prior to your first appointment, you will be asked to complete an initial “Lifestyle Medicine Assessment Form” to gather information regarding your current lifestyle habits.
Initial Visit (~40 minutes)
You and your Lifestyle Medicine clinician will:
- Review your health history and goals
- Assess lifestyle habits across all 6 pillars
- Identify personalized, achievable goals
- Establish a plan for follow-up and support
Follow-Up Visits (~30 minutes)
Follow-up care includes:
- Tracking progress and troubleshooting barriers
- Focusing on 1–2 lifestyle areas at a time
- Reviewing labs as needed
- Coordinating care with your FFPC primary care provider
- Scheduling ongoing visits every 1–4 weeks, then every 1–3 months, tailored to meet your schedule and support needs
- These visits can be performed in person or virtually
Our approach emphasizes shared decision-making, compassion, and sustainable progress, not quick fixes.
Photo by Nathan Cowley.
Lifestyle Medicine is offered at FFPC’s Stone Springs Family Medicine office in Dulles, VA (get directions).
Call today book an appointment: 703-766-5040.
Jihad Alwarith, PA-C, DMS, is a board-certified Physician Assistant with a passion for lifestyle medicine and preventive care. She is certified in Lifestyle Medicine by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Jihad provides holistic, patient-centered care and empowers patients to take an active role in their health.