Premium
Can the Target Set for Reducing Childhood Overweight and Obesity Be Met? A System Dynamics Modelling Study in New South Wales, Australia
Author(s) -
Roberts Nick,
Li Vincy,
Atkinson JoAn,
Heffernan Mark,
McDonnell Geoff,
Prodan Ante,
Freebairn Louise,
Lloyd Bev,
Nieuwenhuizen Suzanne,
Mitchell Jo,
Lung Thomas,
Wiggers John
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.2555
Subject(s) - overweight , psychological intervention , government (linguistics) , childhood obesity , citizen journalism , population , obesity , set (abstract data type) , process (computing) , system dynamics , public economics , political science , environmental health , psychology , medicine , computer science , economics , nursing , linguistics , philosophy , programming language , artificial intelligence , law , operating system
The persistent prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity raises significant concerns about the impact on health, society and the economy. Responding to a target announced in September 2015 by the New South Wales (Australia) Premier to reduce childhood overweight and obesity by five percentage points by 2025, a system dynamics model was developed to support Government and stakeholders responsible for meeting the target. A participatory model building process, drawing cross‐sectorial expertise, was undertaken to estimate the individual and combined impact of interventions on meeting the target. The model demonstrated that it is theoretically possible to meet the target by implementing a comprehensive combination of policies and programmes. When limited to existing and enhanced population health interventions, the modelled result did not reach the target. The project provides an example of how participatory simulation modelling can combine a broad range of interventions together into likely scenarios and usefully inform government decision‐making. © 2018 The authors. Systems Research and Behavioral Science published by International Federation for Systems Research and John Wiley & Sons Ltd