The Acceptability of Lifestyle Medicine Approaches for People in Midlife: A Rapid Review

Background: This rapid review examined the acceptability of Lifestyle Medicine (LM) interventions among midlife adults (40–65 years), exploring experiences and perceptions across health contexts. The review sought to identify factors influencing engagement with LM to inform future health promotion strategies. Methods: A rapid review of peer-reviewed studies published between 2013 and 2023 was conducted across five databases. Eligible studies were from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, involved adults aged 40–65, and addressed at least two LM pillars. A thematic synthesis was applied across qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods designs. Results: Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Five themes were identified: (1) Timing and Teachable Moments – health events increased receptivity to change; (2) Positive Experience – enjoyment and perceived benefits enhanced engagement; (3) Support – professional and social support facilitated change; (4) Confidence and Self-Efficacy – belief in one’s ability enabled sustained practice; and (5) Non-Acceptance – barriers included time, motivation, and perceived relevance. These themes were mapped to Sekhon et al.’s [50] Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA), which comprises seven constructs related to the acceptability of healthcare interventions; notably, support was absent from the original framework. LM was predominantly implemented post-diagnosis, with limited preventive application. Conclusions: LM is broadly acceptable to midlife adults, particularly when introduced during significant health events and reinforced through professional and social support. Preventive use, however, remains underutilised. Future strategies should harness routine health assessments and deliver personalised, multi-pillar LM interventions to maximise impact.