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Adolescents’ Perspectives on the Drivers of Obesity Using a Group Model Building Approach: A South African Perspective

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  • Gaironeesa Hendricks

    (Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle & Sport, Division of Physio-Logical Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa)

  • Natalie Savona

    (Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK)

  • Anaely Aguiar

    (System Dynamics Group, Department of Geography, University of Bergen, N-5020 Bergen, Norway)

  • Olufunke Alaba

    (Health Economics Division, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa)

  • Sharmilah Booley

    (Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle & Sport, Division of Physio-Logical Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa)

  • Sonia Malczyk

    (Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle & Sport, Division of Physio-Logical Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa)

  • Emmanuel Nwosu

    (Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle & Sport, Division of Physio-Logical Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa)

  • Cecile Knai

    (Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK)

  • Harry Rutter

    (Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7PJ, UK)

  • Knut-Inge Klepp

    (Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, N-0316 Oslo, Norway)

  • Janetta Harbron

    (Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle & Sport, Division of Physio-Logical Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa)

Abstract

Overweight and obesity increase the risk of a range of poor physiological and psychosocial health outcomes. Previous work with well-defined cohorts has explored the determinants of obesity and employed various methods and measures; however, less is known on the broader societal drivers, beyond individual-level influences, using a systems framework with adolescents. The aim of this study was to explore the drivers of obesity from adolescents’ perspectives using a systems approach through group model building in four South African schools. Group model building was used to generate 4 causal loop diagrams with 62 adolescents aged 16–18 years. These maps were merged into one final map, and the main themes were identified: (i) physical activity and social media use; (ii) physical activity, health-related morbidity, and socio-economic status; (iii) accessibility of unhealthy food and energy intake/body weight; (iv) psychological distress, body weight, and weight-related bullying; and (v) parental involvement and unhealthy food intake. Our study identified meaningful policy-relevant insights into the drivers of adolescent obesity, as described by the young people themselves in a South African context. This approach, both the process of construction and the final visualization, provides a basis for taking a novel approach to prevention and intervention recommendations for adolescent obesity.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaironeesa Hendricks & Natalie Savona & Anaely Aguiar & Olufunke Alaba & Sharmilah Booley & Sonia Malczyk & Emmanuel Nwosu & Cecile Knai & Harry Rutter & Knut-Inge Klepp & Janetta Harbron, 2022. "Adolescents’ Perspectives on the Drivers of Obesity Using a Group Model Building Approach: A South African Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2160-:d:749343
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lin, Tracy Kuo & Teymourian, Yasmin & Tursini, Maitri Shila, 2018. "The effect of sugar and processed food imports on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 172 countries," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101053, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Sally Dunlop & Becky Freeman & Sandra C. Jones, 2016. "Marketing to Youth in the Digital Age: The Promotion of Unhealthy Products and Health Promoting Behaviours on Social Media," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(3), pages 35-49.
    3. Paul D. Jensen & Caroline Orfila, 2021. "Correction to: Mapping the production-consumption gap of an urban food system: an empirical case study of food security and resilience," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(4), pages 1069-1069, August.
    4. Paul D. Jensen & Caroline Orfila, 2021. "Mapping the production-consumption gap of an urban food system: an empirical case study of food security and resilience," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(3), pages 551-570, June.
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