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Converging perspectives on the processes exacerbating adolescent obesity: An integrative systems approach
Anaely Aguiar1, Jefferson K Rajah1, Kaitlin Conway-Moore2
1System Dynamics Group, Department of Geography, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|February 4, 2025
Summary
Adolescent obesity is driven by complex feedback loops in food, activity, mental well-being, and social norms. Understanding these interconnected factors is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Systems Science
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Adolescent obesity presents a growing global public health challenge.
- Existing research often overlooks the complex interplay of factors contributing to this issue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize the driving feedback mechanisms of adolescent obesity.
- To develop a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of adolescent obesity using systems thinking.
Main Methods:
- Utilized systems thinking principles and causal loop diagramming.
- Integrated adolescent-generated systems maps, literature reviews, and expert input.
- Employed a structured, iterative approach to identify feedback loops.
Main Results:
- Identified 27 key feedback loops exacerbating adolescent obesity.
- Loops were categorized into four themes: commercial food environment (12), physical activity environment (6), mental well-being (4), and social norms (5).
- Highlighted the influence of diet, physical activity, stress, and social pressures.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent obesity is influenced by a wide range of interconnected factors beyond diet and physical activity.
- Advocates for integrating adolescent experiences with empirical research for holistic understanding.
- The developed causal loop diagram serves as a tool for stakeholder collaboration and informs context-based prevention strategies.
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