South African Lifestyle Medicine Association

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South African Lifestyle Medicine Association

The South African Lifestyle Medicine Association is in the process of being set up as an independent

04/03/2026

Obesity is driven by a complex interaction between environment, genetics, and behaviour, and socioeconomic factors also play a significant role in driving the epidemic.

The association between obesity and non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and digestive disorders means that effectively treating obesity could change the face of healthcare.

Lifestyle medicine is the very heart of obesity care. The pillars highlight major behaviour-change areas that can not only treat obesity, but also help sustain results.

Healthcare practitioners must remember that lifestyle change is the foundation of obesity management and should form part of obesity care for all people with obesity, even patients who are using anti-obesity medication.

References:
Govender I, Sunnasy A. The growing problem of obesity in South Africa. S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2025;67(1):e1-e2. Published 2025 Jan 1. doi:10.4102/safp.v67i1.6001

World Health Organization. Fact sheet: Obesity and overweight [homepage on the Internet]. Updated: 8 December 2025. [cited 2026 March]. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/

28/02/2026

People undergoing cancer treatment often experience disrupted sleep and changes to their sleep–wake cycle.

These disturbances are linked to poorer outcomes, including faster disease progression and reduced survival. Poor sleep may also serve as an indicator of worsening disease.

However, supporting oncology patients to improve sleep may not only enhance treatment outcomes but also improve quality of life during an incredibly challenging time.

References:

Strøm L, Danielsen JT, Amidi A, Cardenas Egusquiza AL, Wu LM, Zachariae R. Sleep During Oncological Treatment - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Associations With Treatment Response, Time to Progression and Survival. Front Neurosci. 2022;16:817837. Published 2022 Apr 19. doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.817837

Li N, Xue D, Zhao X, et al. Sleep disturbance as a poor prognostic predictor in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A prospective study. J Psychosom Res. 2024;186:111892. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2024.111892

25/02/2026

Join the South African Lifestyle Medicine Association (SALMA) and become part of a growing community of healthcare professionals putting lifestyle change at the forefront of healthcare.

PAN South Africa member?
Enjoy 20% OFF your SALMA joining fee!

Why join SALMA?
• Be part of a dynamic movement of lifestyle medicine advocates
• Connect, collaborate & build a referral network with like-minded professionals
• Access monthly CPD-accredited webinars & on-demand recordings
• Enjoy exclusive member rates for conferences, workshops & courses
• Get free lifestyle medicine resources & patient handouts
• Become certified in Lifestyle Medicine with mentorship, academic meetings & support
• Serve on the SALMA Board after certification
• Join a committee that matches your skills & help grow lifestyle medicine across Southern Africa

Join the movement. Transform healthcare.

19/02/2026

Physical activity is not an optional extra!

Reference:
Mabena N, Rugbeer N, Lehmann S, et al. Association between recorded physical activity and cancer progression or mortality in individuals diagnosed with cancer in South Africa. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2025;59(10). doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108813

16/02/2026

FEBRUARY 2026 Webinar

Join us for a motivational webinar to kick off the year with Dr Darcelle “Darce” Schouw! Dr. Darce is a leader in lifestyle medicine, dedicated to improving health outcomes for people living with chronic disease. As CEO and Director of Lifestyle Med, she focuses on preventing and managing non-communicable diseases through evidence-based lifestyle interventions. She holds a PhD in Family Medicine from Stellenbosch University and serves as a Senior Researcher at both Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town. In private practice, Dr. Darce specialises in chronic disease care, with a particular focus on supporting cancer patients. She leads lifestyle medicine sessions with care and expertise and supervises masters and doctoral candidates, mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

With over 21 years in corporate health, she developed the Healthy Choices at Work Program and leads national initiatives such as GREAT for Diabetes, including co-developing the GREAT WhatsApp chatbot during COVID-19. She serves on the editorial board of the South African Family Practice Journal and consults at Tygerberg Hospital in the Division of Family Medicine.

A sought-after speaker locally and internationally, Dr. Darce shares practical lifestyle medicine insights with the public every Sunday on KFM 94.5’s “Self-Care Sundaze.”

In this webinar, you’ll:

Define Lifestyle Medicine according to BSLM/SALMA and global consensus.

-Describe the six evidence-based pillars of Lifestyle Medicine.
-Understand the role, mission, and functions of SALMA in South Africa.
-Explain the structure and requirements of the SALMA Core Accreditation Pathway.
-Identify practical next steps to begin your Lifestyle Medicine accreditation journey.
-Don’t miss this opportunity to join the global movement towards healthy living!

Sign up here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rZp9SFpHQdycyrqJHbcQ-w #/
(link in bio)

14/02/2026

"Picture this: rose petals strewn across the floor, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, a chilled bottle of wine, and a gourmet candlelit dinner – a Valentine’s Day scene straight out of a TikTok. The 14th of February can be a highly polarizing day; some people love it, and others love to hate it. Most people, however, can agree that modern Valentine’s Day has become little more than a dreaded annual ritual and a major cash cow for the retail industry."

Our latest blog is ready to read! Head over to our website for the full article.✍

https://salifestylemedicine.org/blog/

10/02/2026

Studying social support in complex illnesses like cancer isn’t easy, but research shows that stronger support networks are linked to better quality of life and even improved survival.

Having people around to lean on can make a huge difference, and social networks can support mental health, helping patients feel cared for and potentially improving treatment outcomes.

References:

Bou-Samra P, Scott P, Cheng H, et al. Social Support is Associated with Survival in Patients Diagnosed with Gastrointestinal Cancer. J Gastrointest Cancer. 2022;53(4):854-861. doi:10.1007/s12029-021-00741-8

07/02/2026

Lifestyle-related chronic diseases are on the rise, yet many healthcare professionals receive little to no training on addressing their root causes.
Certification in Lifestyle Medicine bridges this gap, equipping you with practical, evidence-based skills to tackle today’s lifestyle-related disease epidemic.

The SALMA Certification is:

-100% online & accessible
-Evidence-based
-Tailored specifically for Southern Africa
-Fully flexible - start when it suits you
-Includes a virtual pass to the BSLM Conference

Lifestyle medicine can change the lives of your patients.
Start changing lives today.

Enrol now: https://salifestylemedicine.org/certification/

04/02/2026

Today is World Cancer Day. A reminder to support prevention, early detection, and treatment, and to stand with individuals, families, and communities affected by cancer.

Did you know lifestyle medicine can support cancer treatment? Physical activity can be part of the journey toward healing.

Reference:
Mabena N, Rugbeer N, Lehmann S, et al. Association between recorded physical activity and cancer progression or mortality in individuals diagnosed with cancer in South Africa. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2025;59(10). https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108813

23/01/2026

Are you still telling patients that a glass of red wine is good for the heart?

This Dry January (and beyond), make sure your advice reflects the latest evidence on alcohol and cardiovascular health.

Read the full article on our website (link in bio).
https://salifestylemedicine.org/blog/

12/01/2026

Welcome Back!

19/12/2025

𝕎𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕙 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕒 𝕛𝕠𝕪𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕪, 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕙𝕪 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟞!

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East London

Website

http://www.salifestylemedicine.org/

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