How Social Connection Supports Long-Term Health
The Sixth Pillar of Lifestyle Medicine
When we think about improving our health, we often focus on food, movement, or sleep. But one of the most powerful, and sometimes overlooked, pillars of Lifestyle Medicine is healthy relationships, or Connectedness.
Strong social connections don’t just enrich our lives emotionally. They play a measurable role in physical health, longevity, and our ability to sustain positive lifestyle changes over time.
Key Takeaways
Humans are wired for connection—healthy relationships support both mental and physical health
Social isolation is linked to higher risks of chronic disease and early mortality
Supportive communities make healthy habits easier to start and maintain
Lifestyle change is more sustainable when you don’t have to do it alone
Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute (RLMI) offers resources to encourage connectedness and support you on your journey to better health
Why Is Connectedness Considered a Pillar of Health?
Decades of research show that people with strong social connections tend to live longer, experience lower rates of depression, and have better cardiovascular and immune health.
As emphasized by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, relationships act as a protective factor. They buffer stress, reinforce healthy behaviors, and provide accountability during times when motivation dips, and help people stay connected to their sense of purpose.
A Note from RLMI Founder, Dr. Veggie
“We humans are social creatures and relationships are central to our lives—we need connections to thrive and survive!
Our health depends on having others around us!!!
Stay connected!”
— Ted Barnett, MD, FACLM (“Dr. Veggie”)
This simple reminder captures an essential truth: health is not just an individual pursuit. It’s relational.
How Do Relationships Support Lifestyle Change?
Making changes—like shifting to a whole-food, plant-based diet or avoiding risky substances—can feel isolating if you’re trying to do it alone. Supportive relationships help normalize new habits, provide encouragement when motivation dips, and make change feel more sustainable over time.
This is something we hear often from people participating in RLMI’s 15-Day Whole-Food Plant-Based Jumpstart, where learning and making changes happens alongside others pursuing similar goals. As one participant shared:
“I enjoyed the whole program. Especially the focus on education, support and community.”
— Ellie G.
Another participant described how peer connection helped with consistency:
“I appreciated the consistent check ins and had a few ‘buddies’ in a separate chat that tried to keep each other accountable!”
— Jannine T.
These experiences help explain why relationships are considered a core pillar of Lifestyle Medicine. When people feel supported and understood, healthy choices feel less isolating, and easier to return to over time.
What If My Friends or Family Aren’t on the Same Path?
This is a common experience. Many people pursuing Lifestyle Medicine find that their goals don’t always align with those around them, at least at first.
That’s where intentional community becomes especially valuable.
Being part of a group of like-minded individuals can:
Reduce feelings of isolation
Provide practical ideas for navigating social situations
Reinforce confidence in your choices
Help healthy habits feel sustainable rather than restrictive
Community as Medicine
At Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute, we see time and again that people do better when they stay connected.
Inside the RLMI Community, members have access to ongoing opportunities for connection, including:
Monthly Whole-Food, Plant-Based Support Meetings
Discussion groups and shared learning
Event recordings and evidence-based resources
These spaces are designed to support not just knowledge, but relationships.
For Jumpstart alumni looking to maintain momentum, Beyond Jumpstart offers a small-group experience focused on staying connected, building consistency, and integrating healthy habits into real life.
Moving Forward, Together
Healthy relationships don’t require perfection or a large social circle. They begin with intentional connection—showing up, sharing honestly, and staying engaged.
If you’re working toward better health through Lifestyle Medicine, remember: you don’t have to do it alone.
Ready to strengthen this pillar?
Join the RLMI Community → Connect with others pursuing whole-person health and access live support meetings
Explore Beyond Jumpstart → A guided way for Jumpstart alumni to stay engaged, accountable, and connected
Stay curious and connected → Because lasting health is built together, not in isolation
Healthy habits are powerful.
Healthy relationships help them last.
