title: Incorporating Systems Science Principles into the Development of Obesity Prevention Interventions: Principles, Benefits, and Challenges.
abstract: Systems modeling represents an innovative approach for addressing the obesity epidemic at the community level. We developed an agent-based model of the Baltimore City food environment that permits us to assess the relative impact of different programs and policies, alone and in combination, and potential unexpected consequences. Based on this experience, and a review of literature, we have identified a set of principles, potential benefits, and challenges. Some of the key principles include the importance of early and multilevel engagement with the community prior to initiating model development and continued engagement and testing with community stakeholders. Important benefits include improving community stakeholder understanding of the system, testing of interventions before implementation, and identification of unexpected consequences. Challenges in these models include deciding on the most important, yet parsimonious factors to consider, how to model food source and food selection behavior in a realistic yet transferable manner, and identifying the appropriate outcomes and limitations of the model.
authors.affiliation: Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC), Johns Hopkins University, Room 2041A, 615 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179 USA.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gittelsohn
authors.affiliation: Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC), Johns Hopkins University, Room 2041A, 615 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179 USA.
authors.forename: Yeeli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mui
authors.affiliation: Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC), Johns Hopkins University, Room 2041A, 615 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179 USA.
authors.forename: Atif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.affiliation: Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC), Johns Hopkins University, Room 2041A, 615 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179 USA.
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC), Johns Hopkins University, Room 2041A, 615 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179 USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kharmats
authors.affiliation: Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC), Johns Hopkins University, Room 2041A, 615 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179 USA.
authors.forename: Takeru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Igusa
authors.affiliation: Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC), Johns Hopkins University, Room 2041A, 615 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179 USA.
authors.forename: Bruce Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015142:Baltimore; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004032:Diet; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005523:Food Supply; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012586:Science
keywords: African American; Benefits; Challenges; Obesity; Prevention; Principles; Systems science models; Urban