{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T06:19:07Z","timestamp":1787897947730,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":77,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,27]],"date-time":"2026-08-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787788800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,27]],"date-time":"2026-08-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787788800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Obesity Reviews"],"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Addressing the obesity epidemic requires understanding the complex and multilevel dynamics that shape it. Systems science can help researchers and practitioners move beyond linear causal logic. This overview identifies empirical studies using explicit systems science methods or broader systems\u2010informed approaches to design, implement, or evaluate community\u2010based childhood obesity prevention efforts. We report how systems methods have been applied, their contributions to tackling obesity, challenges, and opportunities.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We searched Web of Science for English\u2010language publications reporting empirical applications of systems thinking, systems science methods, or systems\u2010informed ecological and participatory approaches in community\u2010level childhood obesity prevention. Three reviewers screened 273 records, assessed full texts, and extracted data.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Ninety\u2010eight articles met inclusion criteria. Systems approaches were used most often during intervention design (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200950; 51.0%), followed by implementation (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200923; 23.5%) and evaluation (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200914; 14.3%), with some spanning multiple stages (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200911; 11.2%). Participatory methods such as group model building deepened understanding of structural and relational drivers, and supported context\u2010specific adaptation and cross\u2010sector coordination. The use of systems approaches for evaluation was limited, though emerging methods (e.g., ripple\u2010effect mapping, longitudinal network analysis, and agent\u2010based modeling) signal growing opportunity. Barriers included limited infrastructure for cross\u2010sector collaboration, funding misalignment, and a lack of shared or validated metrics.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Systems science has strengthened the field's ability to visualize complexity and align stakeholders in interventions' design and implementation. Its application in evaluation and scale\u2010up remains limited. Sustained investment in participatory capacity, longitudinal infrastructure, and systems\u2010informed implementation is needed to strengthen community\u2010based childhood obesity prevention.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/obr.70218","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T05:33:01Z","timestamp":1787895181000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Harnessing Systems Science to Strengthen Community\u2010Based Childhood Obesity Prevention: An Overview of the Literature"],"prefix":"10.1111","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7874-0813","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Travis R.","family":"Moore","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University  Boston Massachusetts USA"},{"name":"Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health University of Pittsburgh  Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuilyn A.","family":"Chang Chusan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University  Boston Massachusetts USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8943-5590","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Larissa","family":"Calancie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University  Boston Massachusetts USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-3450-7713","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Panos I.","family":"Tamvakologos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine St. Georges University, University Centre  St. George's Grenada"},{"name":"Department of Pediatrics Maimonides Children's Hospital  Brooklyn New York USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christina D.","family":"Economos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University  Boston Massachusetts USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_11_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ehb.2019.02.002"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s13679\u2010020\u201000400\u20102"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889\u2010018\u20106274\u2010z"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_5_1","unstructured":"R. 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