@article{nokey,

title = {Understanding the dynamics emerging from the interplay among poor mental wellbeing, energy balance-related behaviors, and obesity prevalence in adolescents: A simulation-based study},

author = {Anaely Aguiar and Furkan Önal and Eduard Romanenko and Gaironeesa Hendricks and Anne-Siri Fismen and Emmanuel Nwosu and Natalie Savona and Janetta Harbron and Laurence Blanchard and Sondre Herstad and Cécile Knai and Oddrun Samdal and Harry Rutter and Nanna Lien and Mohammad S. Jalali and Birgit Kopainsky},

url = {https://mj-lab.mgh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Aguiar_et_al_2023.pdf},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-09-27},

urldate = {2023-09-27},

journal = {Obesity Reviews},

pages = {e13628},

abstract = {Both obesity and poor mental wellbeing have a high prevalence in European youth. Adolescents in six countries identified mental wellbeing factors as main drivers of youth obesity through systems mapping. This study sought to (1) explore the dynamics of the interplay between poor mental wellbeing, energy balance-related behaviors, and adolescent overweight and obesity prevalence and (2) test the effect of intervention point scenarios to reduce adolescent obesity. Drawing on the youth-generated systems maps and a literature synthesis, we built a simulation model that represents the links from major feedback pathways for poor mental wellbeing to changes in dietary, physical activity, and sleep behaviors. The model was calibrated using survey data from Norway, expert input, and literature and shows a good fit between simulated behavior and available statistical data. The simulations indicate that adolescent mental wellbeing is harmed by socio-cultural pressures and stressors, which trigger reinforcing feedback mechanisms related to emotional/binge eating, lack of motivation to engage in physical activity, and sleep difficulty. Targeting a combination of intervention points that support a 25% reduction of pressure on body image and psychosocial stress showed potentially favorable effects on mental wellbeing—doubling on average for boys and girls and decreasing obesity prevalence by over 4%.},

keywords = {Obesity, Simulation modeling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{631231,

title = {Dynamics of intervention adoption, implementation, and maintenance inside organizations: The case of an obesity prevention initiative},

author = {Mohammad S. Jalali and Hazhir Rahmandad and Sally Lawrence Bullock and Seung Hee Lee-Kwan and Joel Gittelsohn and Alice Ammerman},

url = {https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/jalali/files/dynamics_of_intervention_adoption.pdf, dynamics of intervention adoption.pdf

https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/jalali/files/vensimfiles.zip, Vensim Files},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

urldate = {2019-01-01},

journal = {Social Science & Medicine},

volume = {224},

pages = {67-76},

abstract = {Overall impact of public health prevention interventions relies not only on the average efficacy of an intervention, but also on the successful adoption, implementation, and maintenance (AIM) of that intervention. In this study, we aim to understand the dynamics that regulate AIM of organizational level intervention programs. We focus on two well-documented obesity prevention interventions, implemented in food carry-outs and stores in low-income urban areas of Baltimore, Maryland, which aimed to improve dietary behaviour for adults by providing access to healthier foods and point-of-purchase promotions. Building on data from field observations, in-depth interviews, and data discussed in previous publications, as well as the strategy and organizational behaviour literature, we developed a system dynamics model of the key processes of AIM. With simulation analysis, we show several reinforcing mechanisms that span stakeholder motivation, communications, and implementation quality and costs can turn small changes in the process of AIM into big difference in the overall impact of the intervention. Specifically, small changes in the allocation of resources to communication with stakeholders of intervention could have a nonlinear long-term impact if those additional resources can turn stakeholders into allies of the intervention, reducing the erosion rates and enhancing sustainability. We present how the dynamics surrounding communication, motivation, and erosion can create significant heterogeneity in the overall impact of otherwise similar interventions. Therefore, careful monitoring of how those dynamics unfold, and timely adjustments to keep the intervention on track are critical for successful implementation and maintenance.},

keywords = {Adoption dynamics, Obesity, Participatory modeling, Simulation modeling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{631219,

title = {Dynamics of Implementation and Maintenance of Organizational Health Interventions},

author = {Mohammad S. Jalali and Hazhir Rahmandad and Sally Lawrence Bullock and Alice Ammerman},

url = {https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/jalali/files/dynamics_of_implementation.pdf},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

urldate = {2017-01-01},

journal = {Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health},

volume = {14},

pages = {917},

abstract = {In this study, we present case studies to explore the dynamics of implementation and maintenance of health interventions. We analyze how specific interventions are built and eroded, how the building and erosion mechanisms are interconnected, and why we can see significantly different erosion rates across otherwise similar organizations. We use multiple comparative obesity prevention case studies to provide empirical information on the mechanisms of interest, and use qualitative systems modeling to integrate our evolving understanding into an internally consistent and transparent theory of the phenomenon. Our preliminary results identify reinforcing feedback mechanisms, including design of organizational processes, motivation of stakeholders, and communication among stakeholders, which influence implementation and maintenance of intervention components. Over time, these feedback mechanisms may drive a wedge between otherwise similar organizations, leading to distinct configurations of implementation and maintenance processes. },

keywords = {Obesity, Participatory modeling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{631216,

title = {Social influence in childhood obesity interventions: a systematic review},

author = {Mohammad S. Jalali and Zahra Sharafi-Avarzaman and Hazhir Rahmandad and Alice Ammerman},

url = {https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/jalali/files/social_influence_in_childhood_obesity_interventions.pdf},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-01-01},

urldate = {2016-01-01},

journal = {Obesity Reviews},

volume = {17},

pages = {820-832},

abstract = {The objective of this study is to understand the pathways through which social influence at the family level moderates the impact of childhood obesity interventions. We conducted a systematic review of obesity interventions in which parentstextquoteright behaviours are targeted to change childrentextquoterights obesity outcomes, because of the potential social and environmental influence of parents on the nutrition and physical activity behaviours of children. PubMed (1966-2013) and the Web of Science (1900-2013) were searched, and 32 studies satisfied our inclusion criteria. Results for existing mechanisms that moderate parentstextquoteright influence on childrentextquoterights behaviour are discussed, and a causal pathway diagram is developed to map out social influence mechanisms that affect childhood obesity. We provide health professionals and researchers with recommendations for leveraging family-based social influence mechanisms to increase the efficacy of obesity intervention programmes.},

keywords = {Obesity},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{631207,

title = {Public and health-professionals' misconceptions about the dynamics of body weight gain/loss},

author = {Tarek Abdel-Hamid and Felix Ankel and Michele Battle-Fisher and Bryan Gibson and Gilberto Gonzalez-Parra and Mohammad S. Jalali and Kirsikka Kaipainen and Nishan Kalupahana and Ozge Karanfil and Achla Marathe},

url = {https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/jalali/files/misconceptions_about_obesity.pdf},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-01-01},

urldate = {2014-01-01},

journal = {System Dynamics Review},

volume = {30},

number = {1-2},

pages = {58–74},

abstract = {Human body energy storage operates as a stock-and-flow system with inflow (food intake) and outflow (energy expenditure). In spite of the ubiquity of stock-and-flow structures, evidence suggests that human beings fail to understand stock accumulation and rates of change, a difficulty called the stock–flow failure. This study examines the influence of health care training and cultural background in overcoming stock–flow failure. A standardized protocol assessed lay peopletextquoterights and health care professionalstextquoteright ability to apply stock-and-flow reasoning to infer the dynamics of weight gain/loss during the holiday season (621 subjects from seven countries). Our results indicate that both types of subjects exhibited systematic errors indicative of use of erroneous heuristics. Indeed 76% of lay subjects and 71% of health care professionals failed to understand the simple dynamic impact of energy intake and energy expenditure on body weight. Stock–flow failure was found across cultures and was not improved by professional health training. The problem of stock–flow failure as a transcultural global issue with education and policy implications is discussed. },

keywords = {Obesity},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}