Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Restricted Access Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Abstract

It is feared that children may now have shorter life expectancies than their parents’ generation if childhood obesity continues. Nutrition is epigenetic, so if change happens now, future generations will have better outcomes and brighter future. The purpose of this project is to enhance the nutritional knowledge of children through nutrition education and to understand barriers to improving nutrition education. The objectives of the project are to provide nutrition education to children, demonstrate increasing nutritional knowledge as a result of education, discuss Nurse Practitioners role in nutrition education and identify barriers to nutrition education. The nutrition education was provided to two age groups within a daycare setting. The pre-k group, education tools included the Slow, Go Whoa curriculum adapted from the U. S. Department of Human Services We Can program. In the school-age group the tools used for education were adapted from the Myplate.gov website. In each group knowledge was test pre and post intervention through age appropriate tests. As a result of the education the children show increased nutritional knowledge. The pre-k group showed an increase of 32.2% and the school-age group increased by 69.5%. It has become progressively important to focus on primary prevention modalities to slow the progression of chronic disease in all ages. Nurse Practitioners can use nutrition education to make a positive impact on the health of the nation.

Identifier

SC 11.DNP.2019.Flaby.J

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