IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/aph/ajpbhl/10.2105-ajph.2014.301884_9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Systems science and obesity policy: A novel framework for analyzing and rethinking population-level planning

Author

Listed:
  • Johnston, L.M.
  • Matteson, C.L.
  • Finegood, D.T.

Abstract

Objectives. We demonstrate the use of a systems-based framework to assess solutions to complex health problems such as obesity. Methods. We coded 12 documents published between 2004 and 2013 aimed at influencing obesity planning for complex systems design (9 reports from US and Canadian governmental or health authorities, 1 Cochrane review, and 2 Institute of Medicine reports). We sorted data using the intervention-level framework (ILF), a novel solutions-oriented approach to complex problems. An in-depth comparison of 3 documents provides further insight into complexity and systems design in obesity policy. Results. The majority of strategies focused mainly on changing the determinants of energy imbalance (food intake and physical activity). ILF analysis brings to the surface actions aimed at higher levels of system function and points to a need for more innovative policy design. Conclusions. Although many policymakers acknowledge obesity as a complex problem, many strategies stem from the paradigm of individual choice and are limited in scope. The ILF provides a template to encourage natural systems thinking and more strategic policy design grounded in complexity science.

Suggested Citation

  • Johnston, L.M. & Matteson, C.L. & Finegood, D.T., 2014. "Systems science and obesity policy: A novel framework for analyzing and rethinking population-level planning," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(7), pages 1270-1278.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.301884_9
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301884
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.2105/AJPH.2014.301884
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.2105/AJPH.2014.301884?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Clark, Stephen & Birkin, Mark & Lomax, Nik & Morris, Michelle, 2020. "Developing a whole systems obesity classification for the UK Biobank Cohort," OSF Preprints 7nqgd, Center for Open Science.
    2. Nobles, James & Christensen, Alex & Butler, Matthew & Radley, Duncan & Pickering, Katie & Saunders, Joanna & Weir, Carol & Sahota, Pinki & Gately, Paul, 2019. "Understanding how local authorities in England address obesity: A wider determinants of health perspective," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(10), pages 998-1003.
    3. Jessie-Lee D. McIsaac & Rebecca Spencer & Melissa Stewart & Tarra Penney & Sara Brushett & Sara F.L. Kirk, 2019. "Understanding System-Level Intervention Points to Support School Food and Nutrition Policy Implementation in Nova Scotia, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Wilma E. Waterlander & Angie Luna Pinzon & Arnoud Verhoeff & Karen den Hertog & Teatske Altenburg & Coosje Dijkstra & Jutka Halberstadt & Roel Hermans & Carry Renders & Jacob Seidell & Amika Singh & M, 2020. "A System Dynamics and Participatory Action Research Approach to Promote Healthy Living and a Healthy Weight among 10–14-Year-Old Adolescents in Amsterdam: The LIKE Programme," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Tessa M. Van Koperen & Anja De Kruif & Lisa Van Antwerpen & Anna-Marie Hendriks & Jacob C. Seidell & Albertine J. Schuit & Carry M. Renders, 2016. "Barriers to and Facilitators of the Evaluation of Integrated Community-Wide Overweight Intervention Approaches: A Qualitative Case Study in Two Dutch Municipalities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, March.
    6. Tanita Northcott & Mark Lawrence & Christine Parker & Phillip Baker, 2023. "Ecological regulation for healthy and sustainable food systems: responding to the global rise of ultra-processed foods," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(3), pages 1333-1358, September.
    7. Kathryn M. Cardarelli & Emily DeWitt & Rachel Gillespie & Rachel H. Graham & Heather Norman-Burgdolf & Janet T. Mullins, 2021. "Policy Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Insecurity in Rural America: Evidence from Appalachia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Cécile Knai & Mark Petticrew & Nick Douglas & Mary Alison Durand & Elizabeth Eastmure & Ellen Nolte & Nicholas Mays, 2018. "The Public Health Responsibility Deal: Using a Systems-Level Analysis to Understand the Lack of Impact on Alcohol, Food, Physical Activity, and Workplace Health Sub-Systems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-14, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.301884_9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Christopher F Baum (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.apha.org .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.