Transform Your Health: How Corewell Health’s Lifestyle Medicine Program Helped One Man Lose 50+ Pounds and Reduce His Medications

What if losing weight isn’t about pills, but rather about changing our daily habits? Corewell Health’s Lifestyle Medicine program is helping people like Robert Gordon Hull Dykstra discover this. He found himself in a tough spot, relying on four to five medications and facing weight issues.

“It was a wake-up call,” Dykstra recalled. His wife encouraged him to seek help, leading him to enroll in Corewell Health’s innovative program. This initiative is known as one of the first specialty lifestyle medicine practices in the country.

“My wife really pushed me to look into my options,” Dykstra said. “Once I started, it was like a light bulb went off. Food truly is medicine.” He learned that small changes in lifestyle can have significant impacts. Carolyn Vollmer, a physician at Corewell Health, emphasizes that many major health issues, like heart disease and diabetes, are linked to lifestyle choices.

Vollmer added that insurance often covers the Lifestyle Medicine program, making it a valuable resource for many. Corewell Health even offers cooking classes to help participants prepare healthy meals.

Dykstra followed a fasting diet, trying it 8-9 times. With the support of his wife and mother, he stayed committed to his health journey. The results have been astounding. Dykstra has lost over 50 pounds, dropping from 250 to 196. He’s also reduced several medications.

“I’m down to the lowest doses and aiming to be completely off them by next year,” he shared. Dykstra looks forward to a healthier future for himself and his family, thanks to the Lifestyle Medicine program and the encouragement from his loved ones.

Recent statistics show that lifestyle-related diseases are on the rise, making programs like this essential. The CDC reports that nearly 70% of Americans are overweight or obese, highlighting the urgent need for effective lifestyle changes to combat health issues.

Engaging in healthy routines doesn’t just improve individual lives; it also enhances community well-being. Social media buzz around lifestyle changes shows growing public interest in healthier living. Many people are sharing their success stories, encouraging others to follow suit.

For more insights, you can visit the Corewell Health’s Lifestyle Medicine page here.

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