Browsing by Author "Aguiar, Anaely"
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- Co‐creating obesity prevention policies with youth: Policy ideas generated through the CO‐CREATE projectPublication . Conway‐Moore, Kaitlin; Knai, Cécile; Finegood, Diane; Johnston, Lee; Brinsden, Hannah; Aguiar, Anaely; Kopainsky, Birgit; Önal, Furkan; Helleve, Arnfinn; Klepp, Knut‐Inge; Lien, Nanna; Luszczynska, Aleksandra; Rito, Ana Isabel; Rønnestad, Alfred Mestad; Ulstein, Madeleine; Blanchard, Laurence; Savona, Natalie; Rutter, HarryDespite growing recognition of the importance of applying a systems lens to action on obesity, there has only been limited analysis of the extent to which this lens has actually been applied. The CO-CREATE project used a youth-led participatory action research approach to generate policy ideas towards the reduction of adolescent overweight and obesity across Europe. In order to assess the extent to which these youth-generated policy ideas take a systems approach, we analyzed them using the Intervention Level Framework (ILF). The ILF ascribes actions to one of five system levels, from Structural Elements, the least engaged with system change, up to Paradigm, which is the system's deepest held beliefs and thus the most difficult level at which to intervene. Of the 106 policy ideas generated by young people during the CO-CREATE project, 91 (86%) were categorized at the level of Structural Elements. This emphasis on operational rather than systems level responses echoes findings from a previous study on obesity strategies. Analyzing the distribution of systems level responses using the ILF has the potential to support more effective action on obesity by allowing identification of opportunities to strengthen systems level responses overall.
- Identifying the views of adolescents in five European countries on the drivers of obesity using group model buildingPublication . Savona, Natalie; Macauley, Talia; Aguiar, Anaely; Banik, Anna; Boberska, Monika; Brock, Jessica; Brown, Andrew; Hayward, Joshua; Holbæk, Helene; Rito, Ana Isabel; Mendes, Sofia; Vaaheim, Fredrik; van Houten, Marloes; Veltkamp, Gerlieke; Allender, Steven; Rutter, Harry; Knai, CecileBackground: To make effective progress towards a global reduction in obesity prevalence, there needs to be a focus on broader structural factors, beyond individual-level drivers of diet and physical activity. This article describes the use of a systems framework to develop obesity prevention policies with adolescents. The aim of this research was to use the group model building (GMB) method to identify young people's perceptions of the drivers of adolescent obesity in five European countries, as part of the EU-funded Co-Create project. Methods: We used GMB with four groups of 16-18-year-olds in schools in each of the five European countries (The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal and the UK) to create causal loop diagrams (CLDs) representing their perceptions of the drivers of adolescent obesity. The maps were then merged into one, using a new protocol. Results: Two hundred and fifty-seven participants, aged 16-18 years, engaged in 20 separate system mapping groups, each of which generated 1 CLD. The findings were largely congruent between the countries. Three feedback loops in the merged diagram particularly stand out: commercial drivers of unhealthy diets; mental health and unhealthy diets; social media use, body image and motivation to exercise. Conclusions: GMB provides a novel way of eliciting from young people the system-based drivers of obesity that are relevant to them. Mental health issues, social media use and commercial practices were considered by the young people to be key drivers of adolescent obesity, subjects that have thus far had little or no coverage in research and policy.