Research Abstract Oral Presentations - Session One

***SEE BELOW FOR INFORMATION ABOUT EACH RESEARCH ABSTRACT PRESENTATION***

BMI TO BALANCE: NAVIGATING PEDIATRIC WEIGHT AND METABOLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES
Presenter: Neelam Singh, RD

A multidisciplinary pediatric lifestyle program that significantly improved BMI and metabolic markers through nutrition, physical activity, and behavior change. The approach emphasizes the importance of healthy eating, family engagement, and adopting sustainable health habits.


Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the limitations of BMI in pediatric nutrition assessment and recognize complementary indicators of metabolic health (e.g., body composition, lab markers).
2. Demonstrate practical, lifestyle-based strategies—including nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral techniques—for managing pediatric overweight and obesity.
3. Apply family-centered, multidisciplinary approaches to support sustainable behavior change in children and adolescents with elevated BMI.


EFFECTIVENESS OF LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION IN TYPE 2 DIABETES WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
Presenter: Pramod Tripathi, MBBS

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common complication of type 2 diabetes (T2D) that often leads to progressive renal impairment. Although pharmacological treatments are standard, lifestyle interventions may offer additional benefits.


Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the key components of an integrated lifestyle intervention—including plant-based nutrition, fasting protocols, physical activity, and psychological support—used to manage type 2 diabetes with coexisting chronic kidney disease (CKD).
2. Interpret improvements in glycemic and renal biomarkers (HbA1c, uACR, eGFR, BMI) to assess the clinical effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in T2D patients with CKD.
3. Demonstrate how lifestyle-based strategies can reduce CKD risk categories and medication dependence, supporting sustainable chronic disease management in clinical practice.


OUTCOMES COMPARISONS OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINE PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED TO REDUCE SURGICAL RISKS
Presenter: Heidi Prather, DO

Background: Our institution offers intensive (18-weeks, patients interested in behavioral change) and selective (1 visit, patients not interested in behavior change) lifestyle medicine (LSM) programs based on patient choice to optimize their health prior to knee and hip joint replacement surgery. Feasibility of this LSM application has been reported.


PILOTING THE LEADR PROGRAM FOR DIABETES REMISSION IN AN ENCOCRINOLOGY PRACTICE
Presenter: Prasanthi Tondapu, MD, DipABLM

This presentation will showcase results from a retrospective analysis of the LEADR (Lifestyle Empowerment Approach for Diabetes Remission) program piloted at DFW Endocrinology. The LEADR program is a multidisciplinary lifestyle medicine intervention designed to support type 2 diabetes remission through intensive behavioral change, guided exercise, and nutrition. We will present clinical outcomes from 15 patients with type 2 diabetes who participated in the 16 to 24-week program. Findings include statistically significant improvements in HbA1c and body weight, with trends toward positive changes in body composition and quality of life. This session will highlight the role of regular, supervised physical activity in metabolic health and demonstrate the feasibility of implementing lifestyle medicine programs in clinical endocrinology practices. Attendees will gain insights into the design, delivery, and impact of structured, patient-centered interventions in real-world settings.


Learning Objectives:
1. Present real-world data of LEADR, an intensive therapeutic lifestyle coaching (ITLC) program for Diabetes Remission and Obesity.
2. Learn about the strategies and team involvement for developing an effective lifestyle model to support people with Diabesity.
3. Translate clinical outcomes into policy-relevant, scalable models for reimbursement.


THE INFLUENCE OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACEs, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDAL IDEATION
Presenter: Liana B. Abascal, PhD, MPH, DipACLM

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been shown to lead to poor mental health outcomes (Chang et al., 2019; Exley et al., 2015; Petruccelli et al., 2019), and maladaptive behavior in adulthood (Campbell et al., 2015). While this outcome research is well-supported, there is limited research examining potential mediating mechanisms. This study aimed to examine whether lifestyle medicine behaviors, as measured through the six pillars, mediated the relationship between ACEs and depressive symptoms, or ACEs and suicidal ideation.