Design Ignites Change - Projects - Stairway To Health!

This project developed by Team Health, is one of six from the "stART now: change is central" mentoring program that unites Central High students and the University of Tennessee Design students in Knoxville, TN. Tennessee is currently ranked 5th in the country for child obesity. In the United States, childhood obesity is nearing 17 percent, more than triple what it was in 1975. Despite the attention this epidemic has garnered over the past 5 years the fact of the matter is that 1 in 3 children born today will develop Type 2 diabetes as a result of poor nutrition and a lack of exercise.

Deborah Shmerler
The School of Art
dshmerle@utk.edu
865 974 3203

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October 20, 2009

During the "Stairway to Health" race day, students participated in team events that promoted a healthy lifestyle. This means learning to balance needs with wants.

One event during the race included coming up with a name for an event like this and then setting it on the Letterpress.

For the healthy cookbook, the Central students used Adobe InDesign for the first time.

another spread for the cookbook.

After polling, it turns out that 95% of the students would have a smoothie for lunch if it was offered on the menu.

We began with a brainstorm session led by the UT students. Some of the questions were: What can we create to promote a healthy lifestyle for the school? How can we educate each other? How can we make the experience fun, but meaningful at the same time?

We arrived at two solutions. One is a healthy cookbook, is made up of healthy recipes that students would actually eat. Idea number 2 was high school health event (imagine the Amazing Race meets a real-life video game) where students compete in events that promote healthy living.

Stairway To Health!

University of Tennessee

Central High School

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