Mui Yeeli, Winkler Megan R, Hunt Shanda L, Gittelsohn Joel, Tracy Melissa
Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Obes Rev. 2025 May;26(5):e13887. doi: 10.1111/obr.13887. Epub 2025 Jan 9.
As researchers increasingly utilize systems science simulation modeling (SSSM), little is known about how and by whom SSSMs are being leveraged to address inequities in access to healthy diets. We evaluated the extent to which studies (n = 66) employing SSSM to examine retail food environments (RFEs): included three pillars of equity (social position, human capital, socioeconomic and political context) that shape RFEs and access to healthy diets; grounded model design and development in theory; engaged with diverse stakeholders and lived experiences related to RFEs; and translated model findings towards addressing inequities in RFEs. Most studies (n = 58) included some model characteristics related to social position (e.g., age). Characteristics related to human capital (e.g., meal planning skills) were the least integrated fundamental pillar (n = 15). All studies included some characteristics related to socioeconomic and political context; however, we found little to no incorporation of social contexts (e.g., cultural and societal norms). Regarding model design and development, less than one-third of studies specified theoretical frameworks or engaged with local domain experts and stakeholders. While certain research objectives and, consequently, model types lend themselves better than others to address key pillars that influence RFEs, findings show that models are not fully leveraging SSSMs to analyze the multiple, interacting dimensions - particularly social phenomena - influencing equity in access to healthy diets. Greater attention to engaging stakeholders and the role of human capital and social contexts will likely better equip models to more holistically examine equitable food access, including essential pathways and unintended consequences of programs and policies.
随着研究人员越来越多地使用系统科学模拟建模（SSSM），对于如何利用以及由谁利用SSSM来解决健康饮食获取方面的不平等问题，人们知之甚少。我们评估了采用SSSM来研究零售食品环境（RFE）的研究（n = 66）在以下方面的程度：纳入了塑造RFE和健康饮食获取的公平性的三个支柱（社会地位、人力资本、社会经济和政治背景）；模型设计和开发基于理论；与RFE相关的不同利益相关者和生活经历进行了互动；并将模型结果转化为解决RFE中的不平等问题。大多数研究（n = 58）包括了一些与社会地位相关的模型特征（例如年龄）。与人力资本相关的特征（例如膳食计划技能）是整合最少的基本支柱（n = 15）。所有研究都包括了一些与社会经济和政治背景相关的特征；然而，我们发现很少或几乎没有纳入社会背景（例如文化和社会规范）。关于模型设计和开发，不到三分之一的研究指定了理论框架或与当地领域专家和利益相关者进行了互动。虽然某些研究目标以及相应的模型类型比其他类型更适合解决影响RFE的关键支柱，但研究结果表明，模型并未充分利用SSSM来分析影响健康饮食获取公平性的多个相互作用的维度，特别是社会现象。更多地关注与利益相关者的互动以及人力资本和社会背景的作用，可能会使模型更好地从整体上审视公平的食品获取，包括项目和政策的基本途径和意外后果。
