Modeling social norms and social influence in obesity Journal Article

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Authors: Shoham, D. A.; Hammond, R.; Rahmandad, H.; Wang, Y; Hovmand, P.
Article Title: Modeling social norms and social influence in obesity
Abstract: The worldwide increase in obesity has led to changes in what is considered "normal" or desirable weight, especially among populations at higher risk. We show that social norms are key to understanding the obesity epidemic, and that social influence mechanisms provide a necessary linkage between individual obesity-related behaviors and population-level characteristics. Because influence mechanisms cannot be directly observed, we show how three complex systems tools may be used to gain insights into observed epidemiologic patterns: social network analysis, agent-based modeling, and systems dynamics modeling. However, simulation and mathematical modeling approaches raise questions regarding acceptance of findings, especially among policy makers. Nevertheless, we point to modeling successes in obesity and other fields, including the NIH-funded National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR) Envison project.
Journal Title: Current epidemiology reports
Volume: 2
Issue: 1
ISSN: 2196-2995
Publisher: Unknown  
Date Published: 2015
Start Page: 71
End Page: 79
Language: ENG
DOI/URL:

10.1007/s40471-014-0032-2
Notes: LR: 20151119; GR: HHSN276200900017C/LM/NLM NIH HHS/United States; GR: R01 HD061973/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States; GR: R01 HD061978/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States; GR: R01 HD064685/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States; GR: R21 HL113680/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States; JID: 101626185; NIHMS655211; OTO: NOTNLM; PMCR: 2016/03/01 00:00; 2015/01/13 [epublish]; ppublish