In recent decades, the concept of health has shifted from a disease-centered perspective toward a broader understanding of well-being across the human lifespan. At the heart of this paradigm is the metabolic continuum, a framework that views metabolic health not as a fixed state of being either “healthy” or “diseased,” but as a dynamic spectrum that evolves over time. Along this continuum, individuals may transition from optimal health to states of metabolic dysfunction-such as obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome-that can ultimately progress into chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
The growing prevalence of metabolic disorders has emerged as one of the greatest global health challenges, contributing significantly to morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Traditional prevention and treatment approaches often focus on late-stage disease management, leaving a critical gap in addressing the early transitions along the metabolic continuum. This gap underscores the need for innovative strategies that recognize metabolic health as a lifelong journey, shaped by genetic, behavioral, social, and environmental factors.
Despite the challenges, there is increasing recognition of the importance of adopting a lifespan approach to metabolic health. This approach emphasizes early intervention during childhood and adolescence, sustained promotion of healthy lifestyles in adulthood, and strategies to preserve functional capacity in older age. By understanding health as a continuum, public health systems and healthcare providers can shift their focus toward prevention, resilience, and the promotion of sustainable well-being across all stages of life.
This conference aims to explore innovative approaches to navigating the metabolic continuum across the lifespan. Through scientific exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration, we seek to highlight cutting-edge research, practical interventions, and policy innovations that can help individuals and communities maintain metabolic health, prevent progression to disease, and improve quality of life. From leveraging digital health tools and personalized nutrition to community-based interventions and system-level policies, these strategies hold the potential to reshape how we approach metabolic health.
Since 2018, Poltekkes Kemenkes Bengkulu has been committed to advancing global health dialogue through the Bengkulu International Conference on Health (B-ICON). In 2025, we proudly present the 5th B-ICON with the theme “The Metabolic Continuum: Navigating Health Across the Lifespan.” This conference will provide a valuable platform for researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders from around the world to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices. By fostering collaboration and innovation, we aspire to catalyze actions that support healthier lives, resilient communities, and a more sustainable future for global health.