The Lifestyle Shaping Lab of the Occupational Therapy Degree Program at the Department of Health Sciences, European University Cyprus (EUC) successfully completed its activities for the Fall Semester 2025. The newly established lab operates within the Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy and is coordinated by Dr. Stavros Orologas, Lecturer in Occupational Therapy.

Promoting Health Through Occupational Therapy and Community Engagement

The primary mission of the Lifestyle Shaping Lab is the design and delivery of individual and group health promotion interventions, developed in close collaboration with local organizations and the wider community in Cyprus. The lab focuses on the development of healthy habits, the modification of health-related behaviors, and the creation of daily routines that support physical, mental, and social well-being.

At the same time, the lab serves as a dynamic educational and clinical learning environment, offering third- and fourth-year Occupational Therapy students the opportunity to develop clinical, communication, and research skills as part of their supervised practical training, under the guidance of qualified occupational therapists.

Programs Implemented During Fall Semester 2025:

Grow Active – Health Promotion in Early Childhood

The Grow Active program was implemented in collaboration with the private kindergarten Little Angels and was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for health promotion in early childhood.

The program aimed to enhance children’s knowledge and skills related to nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and screen time, recognized as key determinants of lifelong health. Special emphasis was placed on systematic parental engagement through weekly communication and on strengthening the school environment as a health-promoting setting, following an ecological health promotion approach that views the child, family, and school as an interconnected system.

Healthy Living – Empowering Adults with Mild Intellectual Disabilities

The Healthy Living program was delivered in collaboration with the Adult Day Care Center for Persons with Disabilities of the Community of Morphou. The program focused on empowering adults with mild intellectual disabilities in the areas of nutrition and physical activity, emphasizing health management as a meaningful and everyday human occupation.

Designed and implemented by occupational therapists and Occupational Therapy students, the program promoted participation in daily activities that support health self-management and the development of realistic, functional, and sustainable habits. Interventions included:

• Basic healthy eating skills (food selection, meal planning, cooking, grocery shopping)
• Integration of physical activity into daily routines
• Recognition of bodily signals related to fatigue and well-being
• Strengthening responsibility and consistency in health-promoting behaviors

At the same time, particular emphasis was placed on empowering the care setting itself to function as a supportive health management environment, offering stable opportunities for physical activity, balanced nutrition, and active participation. This approach highlighted the central role of occupational therapy in creating supportive environments and promoting health among vulnerable populations, viewing health management not as a fragmented intervention but as an integral part of daily life and participation.

Pathway to Wellness – Lifestyle Intervention for Obesity Prevention and Management

The Pathway to Wellness program is a prevention and obesity management initiative, classified as a lifestyle intervention. It is a minimum six-month program, delivered both on-site at European University Cyprus and online, offering free services to individuals seeking to develop healthy habits, improve quality of life, and achieve weight stabilization or reduction.

The program focuses on:

• Understanding everyday life patterns
• Restructuring daily routines
• Strengthening self-management skills
• Connecting health with meaningful participation in daily activities

It includes individual sessions, educational materials, self-reflection exercises, and practical strategies that support the integration of sustainable lifestyle changes into participants’ real-life contexts.

Expanding Impact and Future Initiatives

Although the Lifestyle Shaping Lab is still in its early stages of operation, it has already begun to expand its network of collaborations, receiving new proposals from organizations in the community, education, and healthcare sectors in Cyprus. From the upcoming semester, the lab is expected to launch new programs and initiatives focusing on health promotion, prevention, and empowerment across the entire lifespan.

More Information

More details about the lab’s activities are available on the new website Occupational Therapy at European University Cyprus: https://chop.euc.ac.cy/lifestyle-shaping-for-health-and-well-being/

Or contact directly with Dr. Stavro Orologa, Lecturer of Occupational Therapy, European University Cyprus, Department of Health Sciences, School of Sciences [email protected]