Lifestyle Medicine Competencies in Women’s Health: Consensus-Based Standards From the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine

Lifestyle medicine (LM) takes an evidence-based approach to the prevention and management of many conditions affecting women; however, no dedicated competency framework currently guides its application across the life span. We aimed to develop a comprehensive set of core competencies for women’s health-focused lifestyle medicine. Building on existing American and International Boards of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM/IBLM) frameworks, we convened an international, interdisciplinary expert committee including physicians from obstetrics and gynecology and primary care, representing the United States, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. A modified Delphi process was used to evaluate consensus on proposed competencies, with agreement assessed on a Likert scale with defined terms for consensus. All 7 committee members completed the Delphi survey, and all 73 competency statements reached consensus. The final framework comprises 73 competencies organized into 11 categories: fundamental knowledge; the 6 lifestyle medicine pillars; clinical assessment and management processes; behavior change strategies; mental health; and contextual determinants, including social determinants of health and trauma-informed care. This consensus-derived framework provides the first structured foundation for integrating lifestyle medicine into women’s health education, clinical training, certification, and practice. Its adoption has the potential to advance more equitable, preventive, and person-centered care for women globally.