GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — When Margaret Pratt visited the doctor a couple years ago, an ultrasound found she had blockages in her arteries at about 70%.
That's when she joined the lifestyle medicine program at Corewell Health.
"I don't want to wait until I have a stroke before something happens," Pratt said.
Lifestyle medicine incorporates doctors, chefs, health coaches, dieticians and more to focus on helping patients prevent and reverse disease. This is mainly done with food.
"We're the only freestanding lifestyle medicine practice in the nation that's built within a large healthcare system," said Dr. Carolyn Vollmer with Corewell Health.
Pratt changed to a mainly plant-based diet and cut out processed sugar. Since she began, she has reduced her artery blockage and lost weight.
"I had been borderline diabetic," Pratt said. "Now, my A1C is way back down to normal. I feel better. I feel more capable."
Vollmer said they often work with patients with underlying issues such as type two diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and joint pain.
"It's not just 'hey, I'll see you in three months again,'" Vollmer said. "Some patients may elect to work with our health coaches one-on-one and work with them every few weeks. Some patients may see the dietician. Some may join our comprehensive risk reduction program, where they get phone calls from health coaches, exercise professionals, dieticians. Or they can join comprehensive nutrition for pathways, and be in a small group and cohort with other patients to gradually make lifestyle changes."
Pratt even got her husband, Bo Wagner, to make the change with her.
"I started as support for her, but after I saw the results, I decided to dive in," Wagner said. "I was about 200 pounds and now I'm down to 163."
Wagner and Pratt will not tell anyone the change is easy. It can often be difficult to access healthy groceries in their rural area, and they sometimes miss certain foods.
However, for the health benefits, they say it's worth it.
"I'll be 70 at my next birthday," Pratt said. "I want to be the best 70 I can be."
The lifestyle medicine practice also uses the Teaching Kitchen, located at the Downtown Market in Grand Rapids, for events. The kitchen holds classes for the community, various groups and also for physicians.
Vollmer said making changes like these does not have to be done at the first of the year.
"We all know crash fat diets don't work. Going to the gym seven days a week, starving yourself doesn't work," Vollmer said. "But with meaningful strategic change executed by our team, we can see excellent outcomes. It's an evolution of their lifestyle. It's the betterment of their health over time."
You can make an appointment with the lifestyle medicine team by calling (616) 486-0385.
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