title: A model of social influence on body mass index.
abstract: In this paper, we develop an agent-based model of social influence on body weight. The model's assumptions are grounded in theory and evidence from physiology, social psychology, and behavioral science, and its outcomes are tested against longitudinal data from American youth. We discuss the implementation of the model, the insights it generates, and its implications for public health policy. By explicating a well-grounded dynamic mechanism, our analysis helps clarify important dependencies for both efforts to leverage social influence for obesity intervention and efforts to interpret clustering of BMI in networks.
authors: Center on Social Dynamics and Policy, The Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.
authors: Ross A
authors: RA
authors: Hammond
authors: Department of Political Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors: Joseph T
authors: JT
authors: Ornstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy; D011634:Public Health; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: agent-based modeling; body weight norms; obesity; social influence