Abstract for: Exploring Complex Systems Dynamics Between Firm Strategies and Obesity Policies

Public health agencies have designed and implemented interventions and policies specifically targeting individuals in the lower socio-economic strata. These policies have shown positive effects on individuals nutrition and physical activity practices, but food producers have been challenged with this changing policy environment and dynamics in the marketplace in which there have been some shifts in consumer trends. Recently, there is increasing interest in food industry for strategies that are responsive to these changing trends. The objective of this study is to build a systems model to understand interactions between food firms’ competitive strategies on product positioning in the market, and the obesity policies, specifically the ones regulating food marketing and taxation. We first conceptually present the system dynamics and generate population level outcomes, then present a duopolistic market setting informed by these dynamics, which can be used for analyzed firm strategies.