2nd Croatian Lifestyle Medicine Congress with International Participation
From Theory to Practice
The 2nd Croatian Lifestyle Medicine Congress with International Participation was held from 26 to 28 April 2024 at the University of Split School of Medicine. Under the theme “From Theory to Practice”, the congress connected scientific evidence with practical skills for patient care and supporting lifestyle change.
What did the 2nd Croatian Lifestyle Medicine Congress focus on?
Over three days, the congress brought together more than 200 participants including physicians, health professionals, scientists and specialists from related fields. Lectures, panels and interactive workshops created space for practical examples and collaboration across professions.
Workshops: from personal experience to patient care
Experiential and educational workshops were an important part of the programme. They covered nutrition, movement, mental health and communication skills, as well as practical models for applying lifestyle medicine:
Nutrition: “What about fish?” and “Dietetics and burnout syndrome”.
Movement: “Muscle mass and longevity”, “Rhythm and health: salsa and bachata workshop” and “Reaction time: am I a rabbit or a turtle?”.
Mental health and support for change: “Art therapy and stress”, “How are you? How to support a person in making changes?” and “PsychoACTivate: caring for mental health”.
Application in practice: “Lifestyle on prescription: prescribing in lifestyle medicine”, “Group consultations” and “Lifestyle medicine in the workplace”.
Lectures and examples from practice
Academician Stjepan Gamulin spoke about principles of healthy ageing that he applies in everyday life. Academician Bojan Jelaković discussed the importance and therapeutic potential of music, while Prof Sanja Musić Milanović addressed the public health consequences of modern lifestyles.
Associate Professor Đurđica Kašuba Lazić presented experience from the “Healthy Life, Healthy City” pilot project, while Dr Dražen Gorjanski presented the POST obesity treatment programme. Petra Mijić, MSc Nutrition, presented the work of the Zdravi dan association in chronic noncommunicable disease.
Dr Lorena Bosnar Zelenika presented the “Green Prescription”, a project for prescribing physical activity in family medicine practices. It was a concrete example of applying lifestyle medicine in everyday patient care. |
Pharmacotherapy, deprescribing and personalised care
Prof Darko Modun discussed the complementary roles of pharmacotherapy and lifestyle change in the treatment of obesity. Associate Professors Ivana Kraljević and Anela Novak addressed deprescribing in people with type 2 diabetes.
Associate Professor Anamarija Jurčev Savičević linked COVID-19 with impaired metabolic health, while Prof Gordan Lauc presented the role of glycan biomarkers in personalised health care.
The congress message
The theme “From Theory to Practice” captured the congress focus: connecting scientific evidence, practical skills and interdisciplinary collaboration. Through workshops and discussions, participants considered how lifestyle medicine can be incorporated into work with individuals and communities.
Related reflections and sources
Date and venue: official university congress announcement.
