Question 1
Which statement best describes the core competencies for prescribing lifestyle medicine,
as identified by the 2010 national consensus panel?
A. The use of an interdisciplinary team, such as a coach, dietitian, and physician, is
counterproductive in creating the office and community support needed for sustained
behavior change.
B. The core competencies were created to help medical specialists prescribe interventions
that promote healthy lifestyle practices.
C. Leadership is one of the key areas of the competencies and focuses on leading teams to
better diagnose chronic conditions and implement standards-based treatments.
D. Quality improvement projects, such as measuring interventions, tracking outcomes, and
implementing process improvements, are part of the practice of lifestyle medicine
physicians.
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer D: An interdisciplinary team is considered imperative to effectively produce and
sustain lifestyle change. The core competencies for prescribing lifestyle medicine were
created to guide primary care providers, although those competencies can also be applied to
most specialties. Certainly, providers should implement processes to diagnose and treat
chronic conditions with excellence, but leadership in lifestyle medicine involves much more,
including an emphasis on disease prevention, community advocacy, and the creation of
personal and professional environments of health. Tracking performance measures is one of
the competencies for lifestyle medicine providers.
1
@THE STUDY VAULT
,Question 2
A 45-year-old female with a past medical history significant for prediabetes and
overweight presents for a lifestyle medicine consultation. After a thorough discussion of
her current diet and lifestyle habits, she states that she is interested in making a change to
her diet by eating a side salad with dinner at least three times a week as soon as possible.
According to the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change, what stage of change is
she in?
a) Contemplation
b) Preparation
c) Action
d) Maintenance
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: B- Feedback: During the preparation stage of change, the patient realizes a change
is beneficial, begins preparing to make the change and plans to begin the new behavior
within the next 30 days.
Precontemplation - not ready for change
Contemplation - within the next 6 months
Preparation - within the next month
Action - enacted change for less than 6 months
Maintenance - sustained change for at least 6 months
2
@THE STUDY VAULT
,Question 3
A patient says, "As much as I love to run, I am really struggling to find time to do it
because it takes from what little time I have with my kids." You respond saying, "You value
your time with your kids and you wish you could find more time to enjoy the benefits of
running."
What kind of reflection was this?
a) Double-sided
b) Prescriptive
c) Amplified
d) Basic
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: A- Feedback: A double-sided reflection acknowledges sustain talk and integrates it
with previously expressed change talk.
Question 4
During a follow-up visit, a 31-year-old patient with obesity shares that she has been
consuming more vegetables and whole-grains for the past 2 weeks, resulting in feeling
more energized and her clothes fitting more comfortably. Upon recognizing and
celebrating their progress, the patient appears discouraged and says, "I've lost weight
initially with the other diets I've tried, but then I gain it right back. I know that's going to
happen this time, too."
Which of the following is the best response to support reframing this nonproductive
thinking?
a) "Besides gaining all the weight right back, what are some other possible outcomes of your
health changes?"
b) "Who will be your support system this time?"
3
@THE STUDY VAULT
, c) "How important is it to you to lose weight?"
d) "What would be a good next step toward long-term weight loss?"
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: A-Feedback: The patient's statement about knowing they will regain all the weight
is a type of nonproductive thinking known as "fortune-telling." It occurs when a patient
attempts to predict the future, often arbitrarily foreseeing a negative outcome. To help
reframe nonproductive thinking, a provider can ask the patient how they might see the
situation differently. This can help the patient replace nonproductive thinking with more
realistic and positive perspectives that support behavior change and create the possibility for
future improvement.
Question 5
For the last 4 months, a 52-year-old patient with anxiety and chronic pain has successfully
adhered to a plan of practicing yoga 30 minutes per day, 4 days a week before work.
According to the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change, which of the following
best describes the patient's current stage of change?
a) Contemplation
b) Preparation
c) Action
d) Maintenance
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: C- Feedback: According to the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change,
individuals are in the action stage of change when they have made specific, intentional
lifestyle changes but have not yet maintained their target behavior for 6 months or more.
Precontemplation - not ready for change
Contemplation - within the next 6 months
4
@THE STUDY VAULT
Which statement best describes the core competencies for prescribing lifestyle medicine,
as identified by the 2010 national consensus panel?
A. The use of an interdisciplinary team, such as a coach, dietitian, and physician, is
counterproductive in creating the office and community support needed for sustained
behavior change.
B. The core competencies were created to help medical specialists prescribe interventions
that promote healthy lifestyle practices.
C. Leadership is one of the key areas of the competencies and focuses on leading teams to
better diagnose chronic conditions and implement standards-based treatments.
D. Quality improvement projects, such as measuring interventions, tracking outcomes, and
implementing process improvements, are part of the practice of lifestyle medicine
physicians.
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer D: An interdisciplinary team is considered imperative to effectively produce and
sustain lifestyle change. The core competencies for prescribing lifestyle medicine were
created to guide primary care providers, although those competencies can also be applied to
most specialties. Certainly, providers should implement processes to diagnose and treat
chronic conditions with excellence, but leadership in lifestyle medicine involves much more,
including an emphasis on disease prevention, community advocacy, and the creation of
personal and professional environments of health. Tracking performance measures is one of
the competencies for lifestyle medicine providers.
1
@THE STUDY VAULT
,Question 2
A 45-year-old female with a past medical history significant for prediabetes and
overweight presents for a lifestyle medicine consultation. After a thorough discussion of
her current diet and lifestyle habits, she states that she is interested in making a change to
her diet by eating a side salad with dinner at least three times a week as soon as possible.
According to the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change, what stage of change is
she in?
a) Contemplation
b) Preparation
c) Action
d) Maintenance
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: B- Feedback: During the preparation stage of change, the patient realizes a change
is beneficial, begins preparing to make the change and plans to begin the new behavior
within the next 30 days.
Precontemplation - not ready for change
Contemplation - within the next 6 months
Preparation - within the next month
Action - enacted change for less than 6 months
Maintenance - sustained change for at least 6 months
2
@THE STUDY VAULT
,Question 3
A patient says, "As much as I love to run, I am really struggling to find time to do it
because it takes from what little time I have with my kids." You respond saying, "You value
your time with your kids and you wish you could find more time to enjoy the benefits of
running."
What kind of reflection was this?
a) Double-sided
b) Prescriptive
c) Amplified
d) Basic
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: A- Feedback: A double-sided reflection acknowledges sustain talk and integrates it
with previously expressed change talk.
Question 4
During a follow-up visit, a 31-year-old patient with obesity shares that she has been
consuming more vegetables and whole-grains for the past 2 weeks, resulting in feeling
more energized and her clothes fitting more comfortably. Upon recognizing and
celebrating their progress, the patient appears discouraged and says, "I've lost weight
initially with the other diets I've tried, but then I gain it right back. I know that's going to
happen this time, too."
Which of the following is the best response to support reframing this nonproductive
thinking?
a) "Besides gaining all the weight right back, what are some other possible outcomes of your
health changes?"
b) "Who will be your support system this time?"
3
@THE STUDY VAULT
, c) "How important is it to you to lose weight?"
d) "What would be a good next step toward long-term weight loss?"
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: A-Feedback: The patient's statement about knowing they will regain all the weight
is a type of nonproductive thinking known as "fortune-telling." It occurs when a patient
attempts to predict the future, often arbitrarily foreseeing a negative outcome. To help
reframe nonproductive thinking, a provider can ask the patient how they might see the
situation differently. This can help the patient replace nonproductive thinking with more
realistic and positive perspectives that support behavior change and create the possibility for
future improvement.
Question 5
For the last 4 months, a 52-year-old patient with anxiety and chronic pain has successfully
adhered to a plan of practicing yoga 30 minutes per day, 4 days a week before work.
According to the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change, which of the following
best describes the patient's current stage of change?
a) Contemplation
b) Preparation
c) Action
d) Maintenance
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: C- Feedback: According to the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change,
individuals are in the action stage of change when they have made specific, intentional
lifestyle changes but have not yet maintained their target behavior for 6 months or more.
Precontemplation - not ready for change
Contemplation - within the next 6 months
4
@THE STUDY VAULT
