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Applying Systems Thinking to Advance Nutrition and Health Equity in the Charitable Food System: Case Examples From
Sarah V Collins1, Lara Sapp2, Andrew Peachey3
1Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Summary
Systems thinking tools improved nutritious food sourcing and distribution in Virginia's charitable food system (CFS), enhancing health equity strategies for diverse communities.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Systems Science
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Food banking is a complex subsystem of the broader food system, involving sourcing and distribution challenges.
- Community variations in social support, culture, and socioeconomic status impact food, nutrition, and health strategies.
- Equitable strategies must address the complexities of food banking operations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the value of systems thinking in addressing health equity in Virginia's charitable food system (CFS).
- To operationalize food ranking within food banks using a cloud-based platform.
- To develop a statewide health equity plan for the CFS.
Main Methods:
- Utilized systems thinking tools: Use Case Diagram (UCD), Group Model Building (GMB), and Causal Loop Diagram (CLD).
- Developed a cloud-based platform, Nourish, for food ranking.
- Applied GMB for statewide health equity planning and CLD for visualizing impacts.
Main Results:
- Systems thinking tools effectively analyzed CFS factors, identifying strategies for improvement.
- The study facilitated better nutritious food sourcing and distribution.
- Health equity goals were advanced through systems analysis.
Conclusions:
- Multidisciplinary collaboration enhanced the application of systems thinking tools.
- Systems thinking approaches proved valuable in addressing complex food system challenges.
- The study expanded the applicability of systems thinking in public health initiatives.
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