A coproduced evaluation of a local complex systems approach as a framework for addressing obesity

This programme will be the first, internationally, to coproduce, implement, and evaluate a complex systems approach. This approach will provide practitioners and policy makers with robust evidence about the most promising causal factors within the system (i.e. the actions that are likely to make the positive changes at a local level). To do this we will:
- use a range of system thinking methods to describe the obesity system. This will include understanding key stakeholders' views and knowledge about what they perceive to be the local drivers of obesity.
- create an action plan and build on it by using a range of system modelling methods to understand where are the actual (rather than perceived) local drivers of obesity.
- combine the findings from the systems thinking and systems modelling to develop a complex system action plan. This plan will then be evaluated within a complex system framework, to inform future activities and decision making to tackle obesity.
We will share our learning by producing a national complex systems implementation toolkit and evaluation framework that will include a wide range of tools, training, and communications for different audiences (including public, policy, health professionals, researchers, and local organisations). We will also develop a website, training courses, workshops, videos, reports, and summary graphics to share the results of this work

Obesity is a major global health challenge. This project recognises the complex systems that contribute to obesity and weight management, drawing together academics, third and public sector bodies and people with lived experience of obesity to develop a framework for understanding and addressing this issue.