Integrating Complex Systems Methods to Advance Obesity Prevention Intervention Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Hennessy ◽  
Christina D. Economos ◽  
Ross A. Hammond ◽  
Linda Booth Sweeney ◽  
Lisa Brukilacchio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Systems Science ◽  
Community Interventions ◽  
Group Model ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Systems Approaches ◽  
Prevention Interventions

Background. Whole-of-community interventions have been recommended and show promise for preventing obesity; however, research to understand the mechanisms underlying their success or failure is lacking. Complex systems approaches may be useful to address this gap. Purpose. To describe the evolution and utilization of qualitative and quantitative complex systems methods to understand and model whole-of-community obesity prevention interventions. Approach. We illustrate the retrospective qualitative development of a systems map representing community change dynamic within the Shape Up Somerville (SUS) intervention. We then describe how this systems map, and complementary work of other successful obesity prevention interventions (Romp & Chomp intervention), informed the COMPACT (childhood obesity modeling for prevention and community transformation) study. COMPACT’s design aligns complex systems science principles and community-engaged research to better understand stakeholders’ leadership roles in whole-of-community interventions. We provide an overview of the complex systems tools used in COMPACT: agent-based modeling, group model building, and social network analysis and describe how whole-of-community intervention stakeholders (“agents”) use their social networks to diffuse knowledge about and engagement with childhood obesity prevention efforts, laying the groundwork for community readiness for sustainable change. Conclusion. Complex systems approaches appear feasible and useful to study whole-of-community obesity prevention interventions and provide novel insights that expand on those gained from traditional approaches. Use of multiple methods, both qualitative and quantitative, from the complex systems toolkit working together can be important to success.

scholarly journals A systematic review and meta-analysis of the overall effects of school-based obesity prevention interventions and effect differences by intervention components

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Liu ◽  
Han-Meng Xu ◽  
Li-Ming Wen ◽  
Yuan-Zhou Peng ◽  
Li-Zi Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Single Component ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
School Based ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
School Based Interventions

Abstract Background Childhood obesity is a serious public health concern. School-based interventions hold great promise to combat the rising trend of childhood obesity. This systematic review aimed to assess the overall effects of school-based obesity prevention interventions, and to investigate characteristics of intervention components that are potentially effective for preventing childhood obesity. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Embase databases to identify randomized- or cluster randomized- controlled trials of school-based obesity interventions published between 1990 and 2019. We conducted meta-analyses and subgroup analyses to determine the overall effects of obesity prevention programs and effect differences by various characteristics of intervention components on body mass index (BMI) or BMI Z-score of children. Results This systematic review included a total of 50 trials (reported by 56 publications). Significant differences were found between groups on BMI (− 0.14 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval: − 0.21, − 0.06)) and BMI Z-score (− 0.05 (− 0.10, − 0.01)) for single-component interventions; significant differences were also found between groups on BMI (− 0.32 (− 0.54, − 0.09) kg/m2) and BMI Z-score (− 0.07 (− 0.14, − 0.001)) for multi-component interventions. Subgroup analyses consistently demonstrated that effects of single-component (physical activity) interventions including curricular sessions (− 0.30 (− 0.51, − 0.10) kg/m2 in BMI) were stronger than those without curricular sessions (− 0.04 (− 0.17, 0.09) kg/m2 in BMI); effects of single-component (physical activity) interventions were also strengthened if physical activity sessions emphasized participants’ enjoyment (− 0.19 (− 0.33, − 0.05) kg/m2 in BMI for those emphasizing participants’ enjoyment; − 0.004 (− 0.10, 0.09) kg/m2 in BMI for those not emphasizing participants’ enjoyment). The current body of evidence did not find specific characteristics of intervention components that were consistently associated with improved efficacy for multi-component interventions (P > 0.05). Conclusions School-based interventions are generally effective in reducing excessive weight gain of children. Our findings contribute to increased understandings of potentially effective intervention characteristics for single-component (physical activity) interventions. The impact of combined components on effectiveness of multi-component interventions should be the topic of further research. More high-quality studies are also needed to confirm findings of this review.

scholarly journals Incorporating Systems Science Principles into the Development of Obesity Prevention Interventions: Principles, Benefits, and Challenges

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Gittelsohn ◽  
Yeeli Mui ◽  
Atif Adam ◽  
Sen Lin ◽  
Anna Kharmats ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Systems Science ◽  
Prevention Interventions

scholarly journals Health professional-delivered obesity prevention interventions during the first 1,000 days: A systematic review of external validity reporting

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Marita Hennessy ◽  
Caroline Heary ◽  
Rachel Laws ◽  
Luke Van Rhoon ◽  
Elaine Toomey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
External Validity ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Childhood Obesity Prevention ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Prevention Interventions

Background: Childhood obesity prevention interventions delivered by health professionals during the first 1,000 days show some evidence of effectiveness, particularly in relation to behavioural outcomes. External validity refers to how generalisable interventions are to populations or settings beyond those in the original study. The degree to which external validity elements are reported in such studies is unclear however. This systematic review aimed to determine the extent to which childhood obesity interventions delivered by health professionals during the first 1,000 days report on elements that can be used to inform generalizability across settings and populations. Methods: Eligible studies meeting study inclusion and exclusion criteria were identified through a systematic review of 11 databases and three trial registers. An assessment tool based on the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework was used to assess the external validity of included studies. It comprised five dimensions: reach and representativeness of individuals, reach and representativeness of settings, implementation and adaptation, outcomes for decision making maintenance and/or institutionalisation. Two authors independently assessed the external validity of 20% of included studies; discrepancies were resolved, and then one author completed assessments of the remaining studies. Results: In total, 39 trials involving 46 interventions published between 1999 and 2019 were identified. The majority of studies were randomized controlled trials (n=24). Reporting varied within and between dimensions. External validity elements that were poorly described included: representativeness of individuals and settings, treatment receipt, intervention mechanisms and moderators, cost effectiveness, and intervention sustainability and acceptability. Conclusions: Our review suggests that more emphasis is needed on research designs that consider generalisability, and the reporting of external validity elements in early life childhood obesity prevention interventions. Important gaps in external validity reporting were identified that could facilitate decisions around the translation and scale-up of interventions from research to practice. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42016050793 03/11/16

scholarly journals Coalition-Committees as Network Interventions: Baseline Network Composition in Context of Childhood Obesity Prevention Interventions

Systems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Travis R. Moore ◽  
Mark C. Pachucki ◽  
Larissa Calancie ◽  
Ariella R. Korn ◽  
Erin Hennessy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Community Coalitions ◽  
Childhood Obesity Prevention ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Contextual Understanding ◽  
The Social ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
Network Composition ◽  
Committee Network

Community coalitions can address local issues with deep, historic, and contextual understanding that enables customized implementation of evidence-based strategies. The individuals within the coalition, their partnerships, and the social context is likely an important component of unraveling the challenges of implementation so interventions reach people in need. We focus on the relevance of baseline coalition-committee network (CCN), the networks of purposely formed subcommittees within community coalitions, structure as one of the moderating, theoretical links between community coalition social networks and intervention success. We explore the baseline composition and characteristics of five CCNs at the beginning of childhood obesity prevention interventions. Using a combination of social network, multidimensional scaling, and correspondence analyses, we examine the structure and heterogeneity of five CCNs, each consisting of a core group of stakeholders in the coalition and sometimes the broader community itself. Cross-sectional analyses are used to examine the composition of coalition-committees related to network density, centralization, hierarchy, and coalition demographics and characteristics. Results indicate that CCNs are patterned in their structure and characteristics, and we discuss whether adjustments to childhood obesity prevention interventions according to baseline structure and characteristics could be advantageous for intervention implementation. Together, these findings can inform future longitudinal investigations into CCN network structure.

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