Meaning and Purpose Called Foundational to Health
In a special issue of the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, experts are calling for meaning, purpose, and spirituality to be considered foundational pillars of health. The position paper argues that these elements are critical for evidence-based, whole-person lifestyle changes.
This new focus on meaning, purpose, and spirituality (MPS) was highlighted at a dedicated summit in San Diego in March 2025. The event was a collaboration between the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and the Global Positive Health Institute (GPHI), bringing together researchers and lifestyle medicine leaders to discuss integrating MPS into patient care. The push is to add MPS as a foundational component to the existing six pillars of lifestyle medicine: a whole-food, plant-predominant diet; regular physical activity; restorative sleep; stress management; avoidance of risky substances; and positive social connections. Proponents argue that a sense of purpose is a powerful motivator for patients to adopt and maintain healthier habits. A growing body of research supports the connection between purpose and improved health outcomes. One study of more than 13,000 adults found that those with the lowest sense of purpose had a 36.5% mortality risk over an eight-year period, compared to just 15.2% for those with the highest sense of purpose. Other research has demonstrated similarly strong correlations across large populations. A multi-year study of nearly 13,000 U.S. adults over 50 found that individuals with the highest sense of purpose had a 46% reduced risk of death and a 43% lower risk of depression compared to those with the lowest sense of purpose. This initiative is championed by figures like Dr. Liana Lianov, a past president of the ACLM and president of the GPHI. The goal is to develop actionable materials and training for medical professionals to begin having brief dialogues with patients about the importance of meaning and purpose in their lives.
