Anne Roslind
Leth-Nissen

I am a physician educated at the University of Copenhagen. Throughout my career, I have worked in cancer departments and have specialized in clinical pathology with a focus on breast cancer diagnostics. For the past 10 years, I have served as the chief physician and clinical leader of the breast cancer team at the Pathology Department of Herlev and Gentofte Hospital in Copenhagen. In my professional life, I have been actively involved in research and have co-supervised several PhD projects.

In recent years, both in my professional role and personal life, I have witnessed how we humans are increasingly suffering from chronic diseases. It’s often not just one chronic illness but several, and they are affecting us earlier in life. In the Western world, we are facing an epidemic of chronic diseases that are not solely due to aging but are largely a result of our lifestyle. Suffering from chronic diseases impairs our quality of life and takes away many good years. A healthy lifestyle and good health are supported by many different factors, including diet, exercise, abstinence from tobacco, moderate alcohol consumption, adequate and restful sleep, stress management, strong personal relationships, and a meaningful life overall. All these factors are important, but there is no doubt that diet plays a pivotal role.

As a doctor, I am convinced that there are several different dietary patterns that can all help to reduce our risk of disease. It should be up to each individual to choose the diet that works best for them. For me, the beauty and uniqueness of choosing a plant-based diet lie in the fact that it not only provides optimal conditions for me and my body. A plant-based diet is also a powerful and unifying tool for addressing a range of major challenges we face as humans. Eating predominantly or entirely plant-based is far less resource-intensive than a diet rich in animal products. This applies to land use, water consumption, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. If we shift to predominantly or entirely plant-based diets, it becomes possible to feed the world’s growing population, which is entirely unrealistic with our current consumption of animal foods. A plant-based diet can help reduce climate change and the irreversible loss of biodiversity we are witnessing these days. And last but not least, by following a plant-based diet, I am not supporting a food industry where 80 billion animals are bred and slaughtered each year under the most deplorable conditions.

Each of these aspects forms a fundamental cornerstone in my decision to switch to a plant-based diet. What is exceptional is that they all point in the same direction. My choice of diet has fundamentally impacted my life. It has transformed how I view myself and my surroundings, and it has for me become an affirmative, more empathetic, and loving way to exist in the world.

Short Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT:

1996: Candidate of Medicine, University of Copenhagen

2008: PhD, University of Copenhagen
2013: Medical Specialist in Clinical Pathology and Histopathology
2014: Consultant pathologist and leader of the Breast Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital

2020: Member of Danish Society for Lifestyle Medicine

2022: Cofounder of SHAPEyourfuturlife.org

2023: Completed courses at American College of Lifestyle Medicine

ACADEMIC AWARDS:

2009: Herlev and Gentofte Hospital High Impact Price (2 publications)

PUBLICATIONS:

• PhD thesis: ”The protein expression of YKL-40 in breast cancer. Investigations by immunohistochemistry and immuno-electron microscopy”, University of Copenhagen 2008
• 1 Book chapter
• 25 Peer-reviewed papers