The first Croatian Lifestyle Medicine Congress took place on 3 and 4 June 2023 at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology. “The Oldest Medicine” was our call to give healthy habits the place they deserve in prevention and treatment, supported by scientific evidence and collaboration across professions.

Dear colleagues, guests and friends,

It is a particular honour and pleasure to invite you to the 1st Croatian Lifestyle Medicine Congress with International Participation, organised by the Croatian Lifestyle Medicine Association and the University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology and held at the Faculty of Kinesiology in Zagreb on 3 and 4 June 2023.

Several decades of a growing global epidemic of noncommunicable diseases have shown that isolated efforts are not enough. Drawing on international examples, we decided to bring together professionals from medicine, kinesiology, psychology and nutrition in Croatia for the first time to open a discussion on lifestyle medicine. Our aim is to combine evidence-based knowledge and experience to improve the prevention, treatment and management of chronic noncommunicable diseases in Croatia.

The main congress topics therefore cover all six pillars of lifestyle medicine: healthy nutrition, sleep, physical activity and exercise, social connection and relationships, stress management, and reducing or stopping the use of harmful substances. Through these topics, participants will be introduced to scientific evidence and tools used by physicians and other lifestyle medicine professionals internationally and in Croatia.

We hope to bring together international pioneers of lifestyle medicine, respected speakers and participants from medicine, kinesiology, nutrition, psychology, nursing, physiotherapy and other professions involved in the prevention and treatment of chronic noncommunicable disease. The congress programme includes plenary lectures, oral presentations, poster presentations, moderated discussions and workshops, providing opportunities to share research, ideas and technologies used in everyday practice to improve holistic care in prevention and treatment.

We are also honoured that our Association is part of the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance and the European Lifestyle Medicine Council. These organisations recognised the conference as a first step towards international lifestyle medicine certification. Congress participants receive confirmation of 10 hours of in-person education, one of the requirements relevant to IBLM and BSLM certification pathways.

Thank you for your interest in these important topics. We look forward to welcoming you to Zagreb.

Congress Organising Committee

Anera Lazić, MD, DipIBLM, President of the Croatian Lifestyle Medicine Association

Prof Igor Jukić, PhD, Vice President of the Croatian Lifestyle Medicine Association

Prof Ivana Kolčić, MD, PhD, epidemiologist, Secretary of the Croatian Lifestyle Medicine Association