The Impact of Lifestyle Factors on Adolescent Health and Well-Being

Pediatricians have long considered lifestyle factors in caring for adolescents, yet these practices have rarely been framed within the growing discipline of lifestyle medicine. This article reviews how pediatric clinicians can intentionally integrate lifestyle medicine principles to promote individual and population health.

Nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, social connections, avoidance of risky/toxic exposures, and contact with nature are presented as foundational pillars for optimal growth, development, and lifelong health. Practical strategies for integrating lifestyle medicine specifically into adolescent clinical practice within a family-centered and socioecological framework are presented, including a proposed acronym of NOURISH, designed to serve as a practical reminder to screen and counsel across key lifestyle domains during clinical encounters. This approach contextualizes adolescent heath behaviors within the influence of families, schools, communities, and policies. Clinicians can extend their impact through strategic partnerships with schools and community organizations.

This review highlights opportunities for education, research, and systems-level change to position pediatric practice as foundational for preventing chronic disease, advancing health equity, and supporting healthier adolescents.