A systems approach to obesity

Abstract

Obesity has become a truly global epidemic, affecting all age groups, all populations, and countries of all income levels. To date, existing policies and interventions have not reversed these trends, suggesting that innovative approaches are needed to transform obesity prevention and control. There are a number of indications that the obesity epidemic is a systems problem, as opposed to a simple problem with a linear cause-and-effect relationship. What may be needed to successfully address obesity is an approach that considers the entire system when making any important decision, observation, or change. A systems approach to obesity prevention and control has many benefits, including the potential to further understand indirect effects or to test policies virtually before implementing them in the real world. Discussed here are 5 key efforts to implement a systems approach for obesity prevention: 1) utilize more global approaches; 2) bring new experts from disciplines that do not traditionally work with obesity to share experiences and ideas with obesity experts; 3) utilize systems methods, such as systems mapping and modeling; 4) modify and combine traditional approaches to achieve a stronger systems orientation; and 5) bridge existing gaps between research, education, policy, and action. This article also provides an example of how a systems approach has been used to convene a multidisciplinary team and conduct systems mapping and modeling as part of an obesity prevention program in Baltimore, Maryland.

Correlates of Weight‐Loss Methods Among Young Adults in Canada

“…Evidence on the relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary quality is mixed, but a review by Spronk et al highlighted a modest positive association between greater knowledge and fruit and vegetable consumption (41). Although there have been recent calls in public health and obesity prevention to shift away from targeting individual-level contributors to weight (6), increasing knowledge at the population level may be a contributing factor to decreasing engagement with unhealthy weight-loss methods in high-risk groups.…”

Adipocyte Specific HO-1 Gene Therapy Is Effective in Antioxidant Treatment of Insulin Resistance and Vascular Function in an Obese Mice Model

“…Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and high cholesterol levels [3]. In the United States, approximately 70% of adults and 32% of children are currently either overweight or obese, and the percent of obese patients continues to rise every year [4]. Obesity is associated with inflammation of the heart, often leading to myocardial infarction, reduction in left ventricular function, and reduced ejection fraction [5,6].…”

The need for a complex systems model of evidence for public health

“…These elements affect each other in sometimes subtle ways, with changes potentially reverberating throughout the system. 5 A complex systems approach uses a broad spectrum of methods to design, implement, and evaluate interventions for changing these systems to improve public health.…”