title: Using group model building to understand factors that influence childhood obesity in an urban environment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite increased attention, conventional views of obesity are based upon individual behaviors, and children and parents living with obesity are assumed to be the primary problem solvers. Instead of focusing exclusively on individual reduction behaviors for childhood obesity, greater focus should be placed on better understanding existing community systems and their effects on obesity. The Milwaukee Childhood Obesity Prevention Project is a community-based coalition established to develop policy and environmental change strategies to impact childhood obesity in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The coalition conducted a Group Model Building exercise to better understand root causes of childhood obesity in its community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group Model Building is a process by which a group systematically engages in model construction to better understand the systems that are in place. It helps participants make their mental models explicit through a careful and consistent process to test assumptions. This process has 3 main components: (1) assembling a team of participants; (2) conducting a behavior-over-time graphs exercise; and (3) drawing the causal loop diagram exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The behavior-over-time graph portion produced 61 graphs in 10 categories. The causal loop diagram yielded 5 major themes and 7 subthemes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors that influence childhood obesity are varied, and it is important to recognize that no single solution exists. The perspectives from this exercise provided a means to create a process for dialogue and commitment by stakeholders and partnerships to build capacity for change within the community.
authors.affiliation: Family and Community Medicine (Dr Nelson) and Institute for Health and Society (Dr Meurer), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Department of Physical Therapy-Program in Exercise Science, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Dr Simenz); United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Ms O'Connor and Mr Shields); Y-Eat Right Consulting, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Ms Greer); Agape Community Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Ms Bachrach); Wellness and Prevention Office, Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Mr Fuller); Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (Ms Horrigan); IMPACT Planning Council, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Dr Pritchard); Physical Education, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Dr Springer).
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Simenz
authors.forename: Sarah P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: OʼConnor
authors.forename: Yvonne D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: Ann L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bachrach
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: Brett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horrigan
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.forename: Judy B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Springer
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Meurer
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015984:Causality; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods; D012919:Social Behavior; D014922:Wisconsin