Effect of a 15-Week Whole Foods, Plant-Based Diet, Physical Activity, and Stress Management Intervention on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in a Population of US Veterans: A Retrospective Analysis (AJLM Volume 20, Issue 1)

Military Veterans have a higher risk of incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) than the general population and are often clinically complex. We studied the changes in cardiovascular risk factors with a lifestyle intervention in this population. We retrospectively analyzed data from 67 participants (mean age 69.2 (SD 7.9) years; 97% male) with atherosclerotic heart disease and/or type 2 diabetes in a 15-week, multiple health behavior change (MHBC) intervention implemented in a Veterans Affairs (VA) Behavioral Medicine Clinic. The intervention promoted a whole foods, plant-based (WFPB) diet, physical activity, and cognitive-behavioral stress management. We assessed cardiometabolic risk factors at baseline, 1 month into the intervention, and at 15 weeks (post-treatment). Among intervention completers (n = 67), we observed statistically significant improvements in waist circumference (−2.8 inches, P = .03), systolic blood pressure (−7.9 mmHg, P = .03), LDL cholesterol (−11.27 mg/dL, P = .04), fasting glucose (−15.10 mg/dL, P = .03), and hemoglobin A1c (−0.55%, P = .017) at post-treatment. Participants with type 2 diabetes (n = 34) achieved improvements in hemoglobin A1c (−0.80%, P = .007), systolic blood pressure (−10.98 mmHg, P = .01), and diastolic blood pressure (−6.65 mmHg, P = .03) at post-treatment. Medication usage did not significantly change. Veterans who completed the MHBC intervention achieved significant improvements in cardiometabolic risk in a routine VA clinical practice setting. 

This course expires January 20, 2027, at 11:59 PM PST.    

Course Format

This course consists of ​1​ AJLM article and ​1​ hour of content.  

Target Audience

This course is applicable for interprofessional healthcare team including physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician associates, registered dietitians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, other health professionals working with chronic disease prevention or treatment, certified health coaches, and clinicians in training.  

Learning Objectives

After studying the article, learners will be able to

  1. Describe the lifestyle medicine interventions utilized in the study that were associated with improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors 
  2. Identify which cardiometabolic risk factors showed significant improvement among participants who completed the lifestyle medicine intervention 
  3. Compare and contrast what cardiometabolic improvements were seen in participants with type 2 diabetes who completed the lifestyle medicine intervention 
  4. Differentiate cardiometabolic improvements observed one month after initiation of the intervention from those observed after 15 weeks 
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ABLM MOC

    The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine has approved 1.00 maintenance of certification credits (MOC) for this learning activity.

  • 1.00 ABS Accredited CME

    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy

    Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge-based Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 contact hour(s) for pharmacists.

  • 1.00 ACPE Technician

    Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge-based Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 contact hour(s) for pharmacy technicians.

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    Rush Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 ANCC

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 nursing contact hour(s).

  • 1.00 APA

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 1.00 CE credits in psychology. Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship in the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

  • 1.00 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Rush University Medical Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved continuing education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 general continuing education credits.

  • 1.00 Attendance

    Successful completion of this course activity, including active participation in the evaluation component, entitles the learner to receive a participation certificate from ACLM. Please note that this certificate is offered solely in recognition of engagement, and no academic or professional credit is awarded.

  • 1.00 CPEU

    This Enduring material has been approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Completion of this activity awards 1.00 CPEUs.

  • 1.00 Occupational Therapy CE

    Rush University Medical Center is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000378) and occupational therapy (224.000220) by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 1.00 continuing education credits.

  • 1.00 Participation (AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for non-MDs)

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Physical Therapy CE

    Rush University Medical Center is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000378) and occupational therapy (224.000220) by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 1.00 continuing education credits.

Course opens: 
01/21/2026
Course expires: 
01/20/2027
Cost:
$40.00
  • Brenda Rea, MD, DrPH, PT, RD, DipABLM, FACLM, Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist 
  • Jonathan Bonnet, MD, MPH, DipABLM, FACLM 
  • Micaela Karlsen, PhD, MPSH 

Accreditation Statement, Disclosure Information and Credit Designation Statements

Accreditation Statement: In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by RUSH University Medical Center and American College of Lifestyle Medicine. RUSH University Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Disclosure Information

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with requirements of the FDA, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing medical education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

It is the policy of the Interprofessional Continuing Education office at RUSH to ensure that its CE activities are independent, free of commercial bias. Therefore, we manage all financial relationships associated with accredited continuing education activities. RUSH asks everyone who has the ability to control or influence the content of an educational activity to disclose information about all of their financial relationships with ineligible companies within the prior 24 months.

An ineligible company is an entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. There is no minimum threshold; individuals must disclose all financial relationships, regardless of the amount, with ineligible companies. Individuals must disclose regardless of their view of the relevance of relationships to education. Mechanisms are in place to identify and mitigate any potential conflicts of interest prior to the planning, implementation, or evaluation of the continuing education activity. If a financial relationship is identified for the person in control of content, conflict mitigation strategies will be used to mitigate the financial relationship before they assume their role.

Individuals in control of content for this activity have the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose and all financial relationships have been mitigated.

  • Rohit Moghe, PharmD, MSPH, CDCES: Member, Speaker's Bureau - Novo Nordisk

All other individuals in control of content have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ABLM MOC

    The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine has approved 1.00 maintenance of certification credits (MOC) for this learning activity.

  • 1.00 ABS Accredited CME

    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy

    Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge-based Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 contact hour(s) for pharmacists.

  • 1.00 ACPE Technician

    Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge-based Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 contact hour(s) for pharmacy technicians.

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    Rush Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 ANCC

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 nursing contact hour(s).

  • 1.00 APA

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 1.00 CE credits in psychology. Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship in the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

  • 1.00 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Rush University Medical Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved continuing education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 general continuing education credits.

  • 1.00 Attendance

    Successful completion of this course activity, including active participation in the evaluation component, entitles the learner to receive a participation certificate from ACLM. Please note that this certificate is offered solely in recognition of engagement, and no academic or professional credit is awarded.

  • 1.00 CPEU

    This Enduring material has been approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Completion of this activity awards 1.00 CPEUs.

  • 1.00 Occupational Therapy CE

    Rush University Medical Center is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000378) and occupational therapy (224.000220) by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 1.00 continuing education credits.

  • 1.00 Participation (AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for non-MDs)

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Physical Therapy CE

    Rush University Medical Center is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000378) and occupational therapy (224.000220) by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 1.00 continuing education credits.

Price

Cost:
$40.00
Please login or create an account to take this course.

ACLM member and category discounts are applied at checkout.

To receive member-only pricing, please join as a member FIRST, then complete your course enrollment in a separate transaction. For more information, please click here.

Non-memberACLM Members
$40

$0

Access to online material is granted through the term of approval, which ends January 20, 2027. 
 

Participant User Agreement (Terms of Use and Copyright) 

Before registering for a Continuing Education/Continuing Medical Education Course (“Training”) for the first time, carefully review the following conditions of usage at https://lifestylemedicine.org/terms-of-use-and-copyright/

Registering for an American College of Lifestyle Medicine Course indicates your acceptance of the Participant User Agreement and its terms and conditions. 

Required Hardware/software

This course can be viewed on desktop or tablet using a modern browser and most mobile devices.