Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Breann Lamborn

Keywords

Aged; Child; Diabetes Mellitus -- prevention & control; Health Promotion; Obesity -- prevention & control

Abstract

Obesity has become an epidemic across all ages, as the prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled over the last 40 years (World Health Organization, 2017-a). Obesity can have a detrimental impact on the health and future of Americans, as many diseases are correlated with obesity. Diabetes, which often occurs secondary to obesity and is the 7th leading cause of death in America, is similarly on the rise (CDC, 2012). To combat these issues, there is a great need for a health promotion initiative that provides individuals of all ages an opportunity to learn about health and wellness, to take steps to improving their health, and to participate in health promoting activities. The objective of this scholarly project was to target health and wellness promotion, specifically regarding obesity in children and diabetes in older adults. Additionally, this program has been designed in support of educational programming identified through the Minnesota Department of Education. To meet these objectives, GenerationACTIVE was created. GenerationACTIVE is an innovative way to create healthier communities, two generations at a time. Through the use of this intergenerational format, an opportunity for engagement in health initiatives across the lifespan will be provided. An extensive literature review of several databases was performed by the student researchers in order to identify emerging topics of interest and the gaps in current literature revolving around intergenerational programming. The gaps discovered in current literature led the student researchers to generate the innovative product of GenerationACTIVE.

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