The path to better health may begin with a few everyday questions: Did you sleep well last night? Have you been physically active today? When did you last spend quality time with loved ones?
Health experts gathered at the Bhutan–Thailand International Conference on Lifestyle Medicine and Mindfulness say that the answers to these questions can reveal much about an individual’s long-term health and wellbeing. Their message was clear: many of the most effective strategies for preventing disease lie not in medical treatments, but in daily lifestyle choices.
Lifestyle medicine, a growing evidence-based field of healthcare, focuses on helping individuals improve their health through six core practices—healthy nutrition, regular physical activity, quality sleep, stress management, avoidance of harmful substances, and strong social connections. Specialists at the conference highlighted the role these habits play in preventing and managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and mental health disorders.
According to Dr Yongyuth Mayalarp, President of the Thailand Lifestyle Medicine Association, changing deeply ingrained habits remains one of the greatest challenges. He explained that many unhealthy behaviours have become routine over time, making behavioural change difficult. Lifestyle medicine practitioners therefore work closely with patients to encourage healthier choices, including quitting tobacco, reducing alcohol consumption, increasing physical activity, and improving dietary habits.
Mental wellbeing was another major focus of the conference. Darren Morton, Director of the Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre at Avondale University, stressed that physical health alone is insufficient for overall wellbeing.
“True health includes mental health,” he said, noting that mental health concerns are increasing worldwide, including in Bhutan. He emphasised that simple lifestyle practices—such as staying active, eating nutritious food, getting enough sleep, limiting excessive screen time, nurturing social relationships, and maintaining spiritual wellbeing—can significantly improve quality of life and happiness.
Recent national data suggest that while Bhutan performs relatively well in some areas, significant health challenges remain. Findings from the Gross National Happiness Report indicate that 68.4 percent of Bhutanese adults sleep at least eight hours each night. However, other indicators point to unhealthy lifestyle patterns.
The National Health Survey found that nearly three-quarters of the population, or 74.6 percent, do not consume sufficient fruits and vegetables. Meanwhile, 18.3 percent of respondents reported inadequate physical activity, and 31.4 percent currently use tobacco products.
Health professionals say these statistics underscore the need for stronger public awareness and more structured programmes promoting healthier lifestyles.
Dr Pem Namgyal, President of the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB) and Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, said that although the principles of lifestyle medicine and mindfulness are already familiar within Bhutan, a coordinated national approach is still lacking.
He noted that greater efforts are needed to integrate these concepts into health systems and public health initiatives in a meaningful and practical way.
The conference, which concluded on Saturday, brought together experts from Bhutan and Thailand to exchange knowledge and explore strategies for promoting healthier communities. Organisers, including KGUMSB and the Thai Lifestyle Medicine and Wellbeing Association, announced plans to hold the event every two years.
As Bhutan continues to face rising rates of non-communicable diseases and growing concerns over mental health, experts believe that empowering people to make healthier everyday choices could become one of the country’s most effective public health interventions. The conference reinforced a simple but powerful message: lasting health often begins with the decisions people make each day.
