A system dynamics and participatory action research approach to promote healthy living and a healthy weight among 10–14-year-old adolescents in Amsterdam: The LIKE programme

This paper describes the design of the LIKE programme, which aims to tackle the complex problem of childhood overweight and obesity in 10–14-year-old adolescents using a systems dynamics and participatory approach. The LIKE programme focuses on the transition period from 10-years-old to teenager and was implemented in collaboration with the Amsterdam Healthy Weight Programme (AHWP) in Amsterdam-East, the Netherlands. The aim is to develop, implement and evaluate an integrated action programme at the levels of family, school, neighbourhood, health care and city. Following the principles of Participatory Action Research (PAR), we worked with our population and societal stakeholders as co-creators. Applying a system lens, we first obtained a dynamic picture of the pre-existing systems that shape adolescents’ behaviour relating to diet, physical activity, sleep an

Effectiveness and promising behavior change techniques of interventions targeting energy balance related behaviors in children from lower socioeconomic environments: A systematic review.

This systematic review aims to summarize the evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions targeting energy balance-related behaviors in children from lower socioeconomic environments and the applied behavior change techniques. The literature search was conducted in Cochrane, Embase, Psycinfo and Pubmed. Articles had to be published between January 2000 and September 2019. Studies were included that i) targeted dietary behavior, physical activity and/or sedentary behavior; ii) had a controlled trial design; iii) included children aged 9-12 years old; iv) focused on lower socioeconomic environments; and v) took place in upper-middle or high income countries. Two independent researchers extracted data, identified behavior change techniques using the Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy v1, and performed a methodological quality assessment using the quality assessment tool of the Effective Public Health Practice Project. We included 24 studies, of which one received a high and three a moderate quality rating. Demonstration, practice and providing instructions on how to perform a behavior were the most commonly applied behavior change techniques. Seven studies reported significant beneficial intervention effects: five on physical activity, one on physical activity and sedentary behavior and one on dietary behavior. When comparing effective versus non-effective interventions, and comparing our review to previous reviews focusing on children from the general population, similar behavior change techniques were applied. More high quality research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and their behavior change techniques targeting children of low socioeconomic environments. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42016052599

Co-designing obesity prevention interventions together with children:intervention mapping meets youth-led participatory action research

BACKGROUND: Youth-led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) involves children throughout the process of developing and implementing interventions. Combining YPAR with a structural approach for designing and planning interventions, such as Intervention Mapping (IM), may further improve implementation and effectiveness of interventions. This paper describes how YPAR and IM were combined in the Kids in Action study. METHODS: The Kids in Action study aims to improve health behaviors of 9-12-year old children living in a low socioeconomic neighborhood in Amsterdam, by co-designing interventions with these children. At each of four schools 6-8 children (N = 18-24 total per year) and two academic researchers formed participatory groups that met weekly or every fortnight during two school years. An IM expert panel advised the participatory groups on the application of IM. RESULTS: Following the IM protocol, we conducted a participatory needs assessment with children, parents and professionals, in IM-step 1. In IM-step 2, the IM expert panel constructed matrices of program objectives, and the children provided feedback. In collaboration with children programs were designed and produced using an iterative process during IM-steps 3-4. In IM-step 5, the participatory groups and professional community partners designed the implementation plan. Finally, in IM-step 6, the protocol of the process and effect evaluation - executed by academic researchers with input from children - was developed. CONCLUSIONS: By combining YPAR and IM, several interventions have been developed and implemented, varying from a school water policy to extracurricular sports activities. Sharing responsibility with children was challenging when combining IM with YPAR. In YPAR children are given as much autonomy as possible, while traditional IM development work is primarily done by academic researchers. Strengths in combining IM and YPAR include the involvement of the end-users - children - throughout the process while at the same time developing interventions based on existing evidence. Time-management, a multidisciplinary team, and flexibility are important conditions when combining IM with YPAR. A strong community project group, with professionals who were willing to help children develop and execute their ideas, was an important success factor. This study can serve as an example to other YPAR studies developing interventions using the IM protocol

Understanding obesity-related behaviors in youth from a systems dynamics perspective:The use of causal loop diagrams

This paper reports how we applied systems dynamics methods to gain insight into the complexity of obesity-related behaviors in youth, including diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep, by integrating a literature review into causal loop diagrams (CLDs). Results showed that the CLDs consisted of multiple subsystems and three types of dynamics appeared, including (1) feedback loops, (2) connections between feedback loops and subsystems, and (3) mechanisms. We observed clear similarities in the dynamics for the four behaviors in that they relate to “traditional” subsystems, such as home and school environments, as well as to newly added subsystems, including macroeconomics, social welfare, and urban systems. The CLDs provided insights that can support the development of intervention strategies, including (1) the confirmation that a range of mechanisms cover and connect multiple levels and settings, meaning that there is no silver bullet to address obesity; (2) understanding of how interventions in one particular setting, such as school, might be influenced by the interactions with other settings, such as urban systems; and (3) a comprehensive view of (un)intended consequences. This way of framing the problem will assist moving towards public health interventions that respond to and operate in the complexity of the real world