Neighborhood Characteristics and Childhood Weight Trajectories: An Agent Based Mo

描述(由申请人提供)：这项拟议的研究项目将导致建立一个基于探索性主体的模型(ABM)，该模型将把邻里特征(即物理和社会环境)与儿童的身体活动行为联系起来。越来越多的证据表明，身体和社会环境对儿童的身体活动水平有很大的影响，这是儿童肥胖的一个重要决定因素。因此，提出了越来越多针对体力活动的政策干预措施。最近一个医学研究所委员会建议使用ABM来帮助指导针对儿童肥胖症的政策制定。乔伊斯·李博士是一名儿科内分泌学家和儿科卫生服务研究员，在与儿童肥胖相关的建模和政策方面拥有专业知识，他将与国际知名流行病学家安娜·迪兹·鲁克斯博士合作，创建一种ABM，它将加强对物理和社会环境因素影响儿童身体活动行为方式的理解。本研究的具体目的如下：目标1：对以下两方面的研究进行全面的文献综述：(1)考察邻里(物理和社会环境)特征及其对儿童身体活动的影响的研究；(2)考察身体活动与能量消耗、能量消耗与儿童体重增加之间关系的研究。目的2：建立一个基于探索性主体的模型，考察社区特征(物理和社会环境)对儿童体育活动行为的影响。目的2a：基于具有全国代表性的数据和文献研究，对模型进行验证和校准。目的2b：探讨体育教育和社区安全中的空间不平等对儿童体育活动水平的社会经济差异的作用。儿童肥胖是一种公共健康危机，受 复杂的因素相互作用，包括生物、行为、环境和社会影响。 使用复杂的系统科学方法(包括基于代理的建模)来加强对人口健康问题的科学理解是美国国立卫生研究院日益关注的问题，一些区域金融机构专门侧重于这种建模方法。这项研究的初步探索性模型将作为未来R01应用程序的基础，以创建儿童肥胖症的全面ABM，这将提供一个宝贵的机会，了解联邦、州和学区层面的政策可能如何影响儿童肥胖症水平。 公共卫生相关性：这项拟议的研究项目将导致建立一个基于探索性主体的模型(ABM)，该模型将把社区特征(即物理和社会环境)与儿童的身体活动行为联系起来。这项研究的模型将作为未来R01应用程序的基础，以创建儿童肥胖的全面ABM，这将提供关于儿童肥胖政策潜在下游影响的有价值的信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposed research project will lead to creation of an exploratory agent based model (ABM) which will link neighborhood characteristics (i.e. the physical and social environment) with physical activity behaviors in children. There is growing evidence that the physical and social environments exert a strong influence on levels of physical activity in children, an important determinant of childhood obesity. An increasing number of policy interventions targeting physical activity are therefore being proposed. The use of ABM has been recommended by a recent Institute of Medicine committee to help guide policy development targeting childhood obesity. Dr. Joyce Lee, a pediatric endocrinologist and pediatric health services researcher who has expertise in modeling and policy related to childhood obesity, will work with Dr. Ana Diez Roux, an internationally known epidemiologist who has published extensively on neighborhood health effects and the use of agent based models, to create an ABM that will enhance understanding scientific understanding of the ways in which the physical and social environment factors affect physical activity behaviors in children. The specific aims of this study are the following: Aim 1: To perform a comprehensive literature review of: (1) studies which examine neighborhood (physical and social environment) characteristics and their influence on physical activity in childhood and (2) studies that examine the links between physical activity and energy expenditure, and energy expenditure and weight gain among children. Aim 2: To develop an exploratory agent based model which examines the role of neighborhood characteristics (physical and social environment) on physical activity behaviors in children. Aim 2a: To validate and calibrate the model using the data based on nationally representative data and studies from the literature. Aim 2b: To explore the role of spatial inequities in physical education and neighborhood safety on socioeconomic disparities in levels of childhood physical activity. Childhood obesity is a public health crisis, influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including biologic, behavioral, environmental, and social influences. The use of complex systems sciences methodologies (which includes agent based modeling) for enhancing scientific understanding of population health problems is an increasing focus of the National Institutes of Health, with a number of RFAs exclusively focused on this modeling approach. The initial exploratory model from this study will serve as the foundation for a future R01 application to create a comprehensive ABM of childhood obesity which will provide a valuable opportunity to understand how policies at the federal, state and school district levels may impact levels of childhood obesity. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposed research project will lead to creation of an exploratory agent based model (ABM) which will link neighborhood characteristics (i.e. the physical and social environment) with physical activity behaviors in children. The model from this study will serve as the foundation for a future R01 application to create a comprehensive ABM of childhood obesity, which will provide valuable information about the potential downstream impacts of childhood obesity policies.