What does health optimization mean? 

Health optimization refers to implementing targeted protocols that help you operate at your greatest level—physically and mentally. It is about evaluating and improving your health to reach your best or most optimal status. Moreover, it encourages small changes over time to move the needle from adequate to good to optimal health.  It goes beyond living at a healthy, disease-free baseline. Instead, it asks, what more you can do to improve yourself? How can you optimize health and well-being for as long as possible?

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People with a health optimization mindset focus on actions and habits that can improve their longevity and the years spent in generally good health—also known as your healthspan. They view their health as an iterative process and seek to routinely check in with themselves with subjective and objective analysis. Anyone of any age can be a health optimizer, but a commonality of the people who fall within this category is a drive to perform and function at their highest capacity now and years down the road.    

 

How it differs from preventive medicine, treatment, and reactive approaches

Compared to a treatment-based or reactive approach to health—such as improving health only once a disease diagnosis exists—preventive medicine aims to stave off illness and the onset of chronic diseases. Preventative medicine is proactive rather than reactive, addressing how a condition can be prevented. These healthcare providers encourage routine screenings to detect disease risks early and prevent future problems. Vaccines, annual physicals, screenings, tests, and public health education fall under preventive health. [1]

Health optimization goes beyond preventative medicine to how to become your best self. It is the most proactive approach you can take and moves the conversation away from the context of chronic disease and towards achieving and maintaining vitality for decades to come. 

 

Optimization Approach

Typically, a baseline of your current health status is used a a starting point. This  baseline includes height, weight but goes further depending on the plan. For example, DEXA body composition includes metrics such as percent body fat, visceral fat, lean muscle mass. More advanced testing includes VO2 Max and Resting Metabolic Rate. Blood-based biomarkers also serve as tools to measure progress. Finally, body wearables can provide an ever-increasing number of health-related metrics. 

 

 

From there, specific goals are set up using agreed upon measures, and a Plan is created. . 

 

Future programs include: Medical Weight Management, Lifestyle Improvement
 

 

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