Details

Purpose: To present the rationale for, and examples of, using a systems science approach for nutrition and obesity prevention policy and action; the advantages of doing so at different stages in the policy and action life cycle (e.g., policy development); and the considerations needed to select appropriate approaches given the problem and policy/action phase.

Rationale: Systems science methods are a promising approach to untangling complex nutrition and obesity problems and identifying effective policy solutions. While there is growing interest and use of these approaches, many misperceptions as well as a general lack of understanding remains around how to leverage systems science to inform policy and actions for nutrition and obesity concerns. Through this symposium, we will highlight the utility of a systems approach to studying policy and other solutions and share unique examples with the intention of facilitating greater contemplation among investigators around its distinct advantages and uses.

Objectives:

1.    Showcase examples of systems science applications to nutrition and obesity prevention policy and action at different policy cycle phases, including policy analysis, development, and evaluation.

2.    Discuss the advantages and limits of different systems science tools and how that can inform the method selected for a given problem and policy/action phase.

3.    Enhance researcher understanding of systems approaches and stimulate audience thinking around how these might be valuable in their own work.

Summary: The symposium will start with an introduction into systems science and its use in nutrition and obesity-related policy and action. Then, three presentations will highlight different systems approaches used for nutrition and obesity problems at separate phases of the policy and action life cycle. Presentations will include: the use of agent-based modeling as a simulation laboratory to gain understanding of the impacts of proposed food retail policies and actions (policy analysis); the use of network analysis, qualitative group model building, and system dynamic modeling to examine the role of nutrition and food security actor networks (policy development); and the use of agent-based modeling to retrospectively evaluate multiple policies and community interventions implemented to address childhood obesity (policy evaluation). The symposium will end with a reflection on the benefits and limitations of systems approaches for policy and action.

Format:

Introduction: Dr. Megan Winkler (5 min)

Speakers: Drs. Alexandra Morshed, Yeeli Mui, Steven Allender, and Megan Mueller (45 min)

Discussant: Dr. Leandro Garcia (10 min)

Moderated panel and audience discussion (15 min)

Speaker