About ICHESS
Background
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory diseases, have become major global public health challenges in recent decades. The increasing prevalence of NCDs is strongly influenced by modifiable lifestyle factors, including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, stress, and harmful alcohol consumption. Scientific estimates indicate that unhealthy lifestyle behaviors contribute substantially to chronic disease incidence and premature mortality worldwide. The rising burden of NCDs not only threatens population health but also imposes significant financial strain on health systems due to prolonged treatment needs, productivity losses, and increased disability.
Within this context, lifestyle medicine has emerged as an evidence-based approach that emphasizes the modification of daily behaviors as a central strategy for preventing and managing chronic diseases. Lifestyle medicine focuses on primary prevention and therapeutic lifestyle change through interventions such as balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, and avoidance of risky substances. Research has demonstrated that these interventions can reduce metabolic risk factors, slow disease progression, and improve mental and physical well-being. This approach aligns with global efforts to shift health systems toward preventive, person-centered, and sustainable models of care.
Evidence from peer-reviewed scientific publications further supports the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in reducing the incidence, progression, and burden of major NCDs. Studies have shown that individuals who adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors are at lower risk of developing hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. Moreover, leading scholars argue that lifestyle medicine should be recognized as a “true health initiative” because it addresses the root behavioral determinants of chronic disease rather than merely treating physiological symptoms. These findings reinforce the importance of incorporating lifestyle modification into health policy development, clinical practice guidelines, and community-based health promotion programs.
Indonesia, like many other countries, continues to experience a high and rising burden of NCDs, which now account for the majority of deaths and disability in the population. These trends are closely associated with rapid urbanization, shifting dietary patterns, sedentary behavior, and broader lifestyle changes. In this national context, the concept of lifestyle as medicine becomes increasingly relevant, as it emphasizes behavioral change and preventive health as foundational strategies for reducing disease risk and improving community well-being. The growing adoption of digital platforms and wearable health technologies in Indonesia also presents new opportunities to deliver personalized lifestyle interventions at scale, underscoring the role of innovation in addressing lifestyle-related health challenges.
Given these scientific, public health, and technological considerations, the theme of ICHESS 2026 “Lifestyle as Medicine: Addressing the Global Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases” is both timely and highly appropriate. The conference provides a platform for researchers, clinicians, public health professionals, educators, and policymakers to exchange evidence, innovations, and best practices in lifestyle medicine. It will also facilitate multi-sectoral dialogue on strategies to integrate lifestyle interventions into healthcare systems, educational settings, and community health initiatives. By promoting lifestyle modification as a core component of healthcare system strengthening, the conference aims to contribute to reducing health disparities and mitigating the global NCD burden.
The relevance of this conference theme is further supported by international health frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Target 3.4, which seeks to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030. Global health agencies, including the World Health Organization, emphasize behavioral risk reduction, health promotion, and preventive care as essential strategies for achieving this target. Technological advancements in digital health, mobile health applications, and personalized nutrition have expanded the feasibility of lifestyle-based prevention and treatment. These developments underscore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in accelerating the implementation of lifestyle interventions across diverse population groups.
This comprehensive conference will serve as an academic forum that enables researchers and practitioners from multiple fields to gather, discuss, and share strategies for addressing global health issues through lifestyle-focused approaches. The conference will present new knowledge related to lifestyle medicine, digital health, health systems, preventive care, and community-based health innovations. Participants will have opportunities to share ideas, scientific findings, and practical experiences that support the implementation of sustainable health promotion programs at both clinical and community levels. Furthermore, ICHESS 2026 aims to strengthen cooperation between universities, research institutions, health organizations, and the health industry to build a multidisciplinary ecosystem that fosters healthier societies and reduces the global burden of NCDs.