A Systems Approach to Understanding Childhood Obesity
This module developed by the Region 2 Public Health Training Center (PHTC) aims to explore how to use problem solving approaches inspired by systems thinking to reduce inequities in childhood obesity.* Systems thinking is a methodological approach that helps us better understand how complex systems operate, and how we can identify leverage points within systems to influence behavior. Since this is a foundational module, our goal is just to introduce how a systems thinking lens can be applied to a major public health issue.
In this module, you will learn how to identify the characteristics of a system in a public health context.
*To learn more about systems thinking, please enroll in the course ‘Introduction to Systems Thinking’, part of the Strategic Skills training series also offered by the Region 2 Public Health Training Center.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, you should know how to:
- Describe public health as part of a larger inter-related system of organizations that influence the health of populations at local, national, and global levels.
- Describe different stakeholders with the power to address childhood obesity.
- Explain how local health departments (LHDs) can use systems thinking approaches while planning intersectoral initiatives to reduce inequities in childhood obesity.
…and see how you can incorporate these concepts in your practice to address a major public health crisis