title: Designing an Agent-Based Model for Childhood Obesity Interventions: A Case Study of ChildObesity180.
abstract: Complex systems modeling can provide useful insights when designing and anticipating the impact of public health interventions. We developed an agent-based, or individual-based, computation model (ABM) to aid in evaluating and refining implementation of behavior change interventions designed to increase physical activity and healthy eating and reduce unnecessary weight gain among school-aged children. The potential benefits of applying an ABM approach include estimating outcomes despite data gaps, anticipating impact among different populations or scenarios, and exploring how to expand or modify an intervention. The practical challenges inherent in implementing such an approach include data resources, data availability, and the skills and knowledge of ABM among the public health obesity intervention community. The aim of this article was to provide a step-by-step guide on how to develop an ABM to evaluate multifaceted interventions on childhood obesity prevention in multiple settings. We used data from 2 obesity prevention initiatives and public-use resources. The details and goals of the interventions, overview of the model design process, and generalizability of this approach for future interventions is discussed.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Bethesda, MD 20852. Email: erin.hennessy@nih.gov.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hennessy
authors.affiliation: Department of Political Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Joseph T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ornstein
authors.affiliation: ChildObesity180, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Christina D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Economos
authors.affiliation: ChildObesity180, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Julia Bloom
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.affiliation: ChildObesity180, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lynskey
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Professions, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coffield
authors.affiliation: Center on Social Dynamics and Policy, The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Ross A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hammond
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology