DipABLM study guide
DipABLM · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM) sets and maintains standards for assessment and credentialing of physicians in Lifestyle Medicine in the US and Canada, while the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM) fulfills this function globally. Certification as an ABLM/IBLM diplomate signifies specialized knowledge in the practice of lifestyle medicine and distinguishes a physician as having achieved competency in lifestyle medicine. The DipABLM study guide has 6 sections and about 2,351 words.
01Whole-Food, Plant-Predominant Eating Pattern
The whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern domain tests whether you can translate nutrition evidence into a defensible clinical plan: which dietary patterns have outcome data, how to keep the pattern nutritionally adequate, and how to counsel without triggering all-or-nothing thinking. Whole or minimally processed plants - vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds - form the base.
429 words, about 2 min02Physical Activity
The physical activity domain tests your ability to prescribe movement the way you prescribe medication: a specific dose, a progression, and a safety check, grounded in the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and the 2020 WHO guidance. 150–300 minutes/week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or 75–150 minutes/week of vigorous activity, or an equivalent mix.
399 words, about 2 min03Restorative Sleep
Restorative sleep is a lifestyle medicine pillar because sleep duration and quality are independently and bidirectionally linked to cardiometabolic disease, mood, weight, and adherence to every other domain. The exam tests guideline hours, the first-line treatment for insomnia, and the screening you owe a patient who sleeps badly.
389 words, about 2 min04Stress Management
This domain tests whether you can treat chronic stress as a measurable clinical problem rather than a vague complaint. You should know the physiology, the evidence-based interventions, and how to avoid promising that relaxation cures disease.
376 words, about 2 min05Avoidance of Risky Substances
Tobacco, alcohol, and other substance use are the most potent modifiable risks in lifestyle medicine. The exam tests brief intervention frameworks, first-line pharmacotherapy, and the specific thresholds and screening tools.
365 words, about 2 min06Positive Social Connections
This domain asks you to treat social relationships as a biological variable. Loneliness and social isolation predict mortality independently of smoking, alcohol, and obesity, and the exam expects you to know the evidence, the screening tools, and the interventions.
393 words, about 2 min