By Dr. Irene Lazarus , 🩺 Board-Certified Preventive Medicine Physician

When we think of health care, most of us picture the doctor’s office — blood pressure cuff, quick labs, and that famous line: “See you next year.” But what if preventive medicine was more than just an annual checkup? What if Nashville’s fitness and wellness scene could lead a city-wide movement that shifts us from sick care to self-care?

Redefining Prevention

Preventive medicine is about catching issues before they catch up to you. It’s divided into two key levels:

• Primary prevention means stopping disease before it starts — like vaccines, healthy eating, and exercise.
• Secondary prevention means detecting and addressing early disease before symptoms progress — such as cancer screenings or blood pressure checks.

To guide these efforts, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) ranks preventive services from A to D, based on evidence strength:

• Grade A: Strongly recommended — high certainty of substantial benefit.
• Grade D: Discouraged — evidence shows no benefit, or possible harm.

These ratings form the backbone of preventive care, helping patients and providers focus on what truly works.

Grade A — What Works

A few standout Grade A recommendations include:

• Hypertension screening — Every adult should have regular blood pressure checks.
• Colorectal cancer screening — Early detection saves lives, especially when paired with healthy habits.
• Syphilis and HIV screening — Particularly for pregnant persons or those at increased risk.
• Folic acid supplementation — For women planning pregnancy, to prevent neural tube defects.
• Tobacco cessation counseling — Still one of the most effective preventive measures for overall health.

Prevention is active, not passive. It’s what we build into our daily lives — from gym workouts to mindful meals.

Grade D — What to Rethink

On the other end of the spectrum, Grade D recommendations highlight what not to do routinely:

• Routine vitamin or multivitamin supplements to prevent cancer or heart disease — no consistent benefit.
• Screening for COPD in people without symptoms — doesn’t improve outcomes.
• Hormone therapy for postmenopausal women solely to prevent chronic disease — risks outweigh benefits.

These findings remind us that more interventions aren’t always better. True prevention means focusing effort where it truly counts.

The InBody Advantage: Measuring What Matter

Weight alone doesn’t tell the whole story. That’s where InBody scans come in — a smart body composition analysis tool that breaks down fat, muscle, and water distribution. Unlike a standard scale, it helps you track body fat percentage and muscle mass, not just pounds.

This is especially vital after menopause or in older adults, when muscle loss accelerates and fat redistribution raises cardiovascular risk. Maintaining lean muscle supports mobility, metabolic health, and quality of life — all core pillars of preventive medicine.

InBody results pair beautifully with key lab markers like A1C, lipid panel, BMI (height and weight), and a review of smoking history and personal blood pressure or diabetes history. These data points feed into the ASCVD 10-year risk score — a powerful tool for estimating heart disease risk, recommended for adults over 40.

It’s a starting block for your wellness journey — measurable, trackable, and deeply motivating.
💡 Tip: Local YMCAs across Nashville offer free InBody scans, and you can find testing locations near you through the link above.

Fitness Meets Preventive Medicine

Nashville’s fitness community is uniquely positioned to turn prevention into practice. It’s not just about sweating; it’s about training smarter, measuring progress, and personalizing care.

One innovation leading that charge is EGYM — a smart fitness system that adjusts resistance in real time, guiding your form and intensity automatically. It’s precision-based exercise that evolves with you, improving strength while minimizing injury risk. Nashville gyms are beginning to adopt EGYM’s adaptive technology to create sustainable, data-driven training for all fitness levels.

Culinary Health: The Missing Pillar

Nutrition is often the unsung hero of prevention. That’s where Cozymeal steps in — an interactive platform offering chef-led cooking experiences across the U.S. and internationally. Beyond a fun night out, these classes teach real culinary skills that translate into healthier eating patterns.

Cooking is one of the most empowering forms of self-care. When you know how to prepare nutrient-dense meals at home, you build long-term resilience against chronic disease.

Nashville’s Moment

Nashville has a rare opportunity to lead by example — a city where prevention is powered by culture, community, and creativity. From free InBody scans at local YMCAs to precision strength training with EGYM and global cooking experiences through Cozymeal, it’s all here. Local insider: QNTM Fit Life uses metabolic data to tailor nutrition and training plans that improve heart health. or Join the dynamic Mr. James Crumlin, JD and Triathlon/Run Coach the co-founder of the free #CapitolStepsWorkout every Monday & Thursday at 6:00pm sharp! (Voted NFM’s best free community workout for several years.)

💪 Take the First Step

If you’re ready to join Nashville’s preventive health movement, sign up for the Minority Wellness newsletter here to get updates on local workshops, prediabetes lifestyle evidence-based interventions, screenings, and free community fitness events.

Because the best medicine isn’t found in a bottle — it’s built through knowledge, connection, and consistent care.

Author: Irene Lazarus, MD MPH

Dr. Irene Lazarus combines clinical expertise with public health leadership, building community-driven solutions for healthier populations. [Discover more ➝]