TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding obesity-related behaviors in youth from a systems dynamics perspective
T2 - The use of causal loop diagrams
AU - Waterlander, Wilma E.
AU - Singh, Amika
AU - Altenburg, Teatske
AU - Dijkstra, Coosje
AU - Luna Pinzon, Angie
AU - Anselma, Manou
AU - Busch, Vincent
AU - van Houtum, Lieke
AU - Emke, Helga
AU - Overman, Meredith L.
AU - Chinapaw, Mai J. M.
AU - Stronks, Karien
N1 - Funding Information:
We'd like to thank all experts who critically reviewed the causal loop diagrams: Prof Jaap Seidell, Dr Maartje van Stralen, Dr Carry Renders, Dr Roel Hermans, and Emma van den Eynde. This work was supported by a grant from the Netherlands Cardiovascular Research Initiative: an initiative with support of the Dutch Heart Foundation, ZonMw, CVON2016‐07 LIKE.
Funding Information:
We'd like to thank all experts who critically reviewed the causal loop diagrams: Prof Jaap Seidell, Dr Maartje van Stralen, Dr Carry Renders, Dr Roel Hermans, and Emma van den Eynde. This work was supported by a grant from the Netherlands Cardiovascular Research Initiative: an initiative with support of the Dutch Heart Foundation, ZonMw, CVON2016-07 LIKE.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors. Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - This paper reports how we applied systems dynamics methods to gain insight into the complexity of obesity-related behaviors in youth, including diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep, by integrating a literature review into causal loop diagrams (CLDs). Results showed that the CLDs consisted of multiple subsystems and three types of dynamics appeared, including (1) feedback loops, (2) connections between feedback loops and subsystems, and (3) mechanisms. We observed clear similarities in the dynamics for the four behaviors in that they relate to "traditional" subsystems, such as home and school environments, as well as to newly added subsystems, including macroeconomics, social welfare, and urban systems. The CLDs provided insights that can support the development of intervention strategies, including (1) the confirmation that a range of mechanisms cover and connect multiple levels and settings, meaning that there is no silver bullet to address obesity; (2) understanding of how interventions in one particular setting, such as school, might be influenced by the interactions with other settings, such as urban systems; and (3) a comprehensive view of (un)intended consequences. This way of framing the problem will assist moving towards public health interventions that respond to and operate in the complexity of the real world.
AB - This paper reports how we applied systems dynamics methods to gain insight into the complexity of obesity-related behaviors in youth, including diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep, by integrating a literature review into causal loop diagrams (CLDs). Results showed that the CLDs consisted of multiple subsystems and three types of dynamics appeared, including (1) feedback loops, (2) connections between feedback loops and subsystems, and (3) mechanisms. We observed clear similarities in the dynamics for the four behaviors in that they relate to "traditional" subsystems, such as home and school environments, as well as to newly added subsystems, including macroeconomics, social welfare, and urban systems. The CLDs provided insights that can support the development of intervention strategies, including (1) the confirmation that a range of mechanisms cover and connect multiple levels and settings, meaning that there is no silver bullet to address obesity; (2) understanding of how interventions in one particular setting, such as school, might be influenced by the interactions with other settings, such as urban systems; and (3) a comprehensive view of (un)intended consequences. This way of framing the problem will assist moving towards public health interventions that respond to and operate in the complexity of the real world.
KW - adolescents
KW - causal loop diagrams
KW - obesity
KW - systems dynamics
KW - INTERVENTIONS
U2 - 10.1111/obr.13185
DO - 10.1111/obr.13185
M3 - (Systematic) Review article
C2 - 33369045
SN - 1467-7881
VL - 22
JO - Obesity Reviews
JF - Obesity Reviews
IS - 7
ER -