Changing Concepts of Healthcare: Physical Activity, Fitness and Wellness

Framingham Heart Studies Group, which started their work some 70 years ago in the USA, have meticulously developed information about modifiable risks, that promote the development of cardiovascular diseases. Several studies have demonstrated, that robust management of these observed modifiable risks, will reduce or prevent premature mortality related to this number one killer worldwide. In spite of the existence of this evidence-based knowledge, there is a rapid increase in the incidence and prevalence of metabolic diseases like hypertension, excess weight, obesity, type-2 diabetes, and vascular diseases. In our view, modern medicine has failed in developing appropriate prevention strategies, and instead, has heavily concentrated in drug discovery and risk management. This approach may reduce or postpone the premature mortality, but, will not reduce, reverse, or prevent the incidence of cardiometabolic diseases. In recent years, there is a great interest and a tremendous growth, in the Health and Wellness approaches. Just about everyone talks about, Yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and a variety of fitness and wellness programs. According to the experts, this health and wellness industry is growing robustly, and has reached a targeted $95 billion market size worldwide. It is estimated, that there are more than 200,000 health clubs with over 174 million members worldwide. This unique platform, attracts individuals who are motivated to improve their health and wellness. We feel strongly, that if we can develop a well thought out training and prevention program, using this ‘motivated cohort’, we can demonstrate the importance of lifestyle changes in the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases. In this overview, we have provided a novel approach or a road map, for the development of a noninvasive screening program, for developing fitness and wellness index, risk assessment, risk prediction, and robust management of the observed risks. In presenting this ‘road map’, we have discussed the value of some of the currently available diagnostic devices, tools, and platforms including the Life Probes, a “Health Kiosk”, developed by the LDtechnologies of Miami, Florida. The basic concept and approach involve, screening for fitness and wellness, development of a grading system to score the ‘health status,’ in the process, -identify any metabolic risks present, and recommend those individuals with observed risks, for further testing and triaging. In spite of the fact, that there are thousands of health clubs and millions of motivated members, there is no seamless screening, testing, and ‘evaluating package’ available. We have made a small beginning, by selection of some of the currently available diagnostic tools and platforms. We have developed a novel approach for the integration of emerging technologies for the development of newer concepts of integrated preventive healthcare. Just identifying a risk will not reduce, reverse, or prevent the disease. We need to provide a total, seamless, end to end solution, which involves, prevention of the risks from developing, early identification of the risks, and robust modification of the risks for cardiometabolic diseases.