"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
-Albert Einstein

THE NEED FOR NEW THINKING

The obesity epidemic continues unabated in the US and the rest of the world. Obesity is a high-cost non-communicable disease. Weight stigma compounds the health consequences of obesity. Racial, ethnic, and regional disparities persist. Advocates are challenged at placing obesity prevention on the agendas of funders, policy makers, and the American public. Tackling the obesity epidemic will require fresh thinking, new partners, and a renewed commitment to action.
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The overarching theme of SOS 2019 is “Improving Systems to Promote Healthy People and Resilient Communities.” This theme reflects the need for obesity prevention to target the systems that encourage and maintain weight gain. SOS 2019 will offer opportunities to understand and address the systems dynamics that drive the obesity epidemic and hinder the impact of our best efforts at prevention. 
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In addition to seasoned obesity prevention experts, SOS 2019 will feature sessions from researchers, practitioners, educators, and policy makers from health and non-health sector organizations and fields. These include but are not limited to urban planners, psychologists, demographers, agricultural extension, media experts, food distributors, bench scientists, policy makers, and entrepreneurs. 

​2019 SOS TRACKS
The first four tracks incorporate “sub-systems” of a wider system that shapes obesity. The last two tracks will provide an opportunity for individuals with experience working at community or state, regional, and national levels to share their experience through a systems lens. A description of these tracks along with illustrative examples of abstract topics are meant to provide guidance for which track to submit your abstract. 
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​I) SYSTEMS INFLUENCING OBESITY AND ITS PREVENTION

A. Healthy Eating and Food System Drivers
The food system involves all individuals and organizations involved in processes from seed to table. 
Possible abstract topics:food insecurity, farm-to-institution programs, relationship-building with food system partners, the role of food entrepreneurs, food policy councils and other coalitions, nudges for healthy eating, implementing nutrition standards in child care settings.  ​

B. Active Living and Environmental Drivers
These include land-use, urban design, built environment, and transportation systems. 
Possible abstract topics: relationship-building; cross-sectoral partnerships; incorporating health elements in master, comprehensive, regional, sustainability, and transportation plans; practices to increase the use of parks, playgrounds, and greenspace; improving walkability and active transportation, unintended impact of healthy design on health equity and social justice.

C. Game Changing Science and Medicine
This section will cultivate new understandings of recent scientific findings or discoveries that may improve the treatment and prevention of weight gain, obesity, and associated physical and mental health problems; and how we think about the biological causes of and complications from obesity. 
Possible abstract topics: New findings on the role of obesity and other chronic diseases, behavioral health and obesity, role of trauma and early life experiences on later risk for obesity, epigenetics and obesity, impact of maternal health and breastfeeding. ​
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D. Social Forces and Individual Psychology
This section deals with cultural and social forces that impact both health seeking behaviors, perceptions about body image, attitudes about obesity, and the public response to the obesity epidemic. 
Possible abstract topics: Effective messaging, negative media exposure, the weight dominant health paradigm, obesity policy inertia, body image, eating disorders, obesity transition and health equity


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II) ADVANCING SYSTEMS THINKING INTO OBESITY PREVENTION

E. Local Ecological Systems
Households, schools, worksites, churches, and communities are obesity prevention sites in local ecological systems. This section offers an opportunity for practitioners working on place-based obesity prevention interventions to share their learnings about the systems dynamics during implementation.
Possible abstract topics: Using systems and design thinking for community transformation, lessons learned about systems dynamics, systems mapping, transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration.
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F. Systems Approaches to State and National Policy Change
The section focuses on ways to tackle and coordinate obesity prevention strategies at state, regional and national levels. 
Possible abstract topics: Regional, cross-jurisdictional, or multi-state challenges and strategies, mapping systems dynamics in southern states, systems approach to policy change, using a systems lens to learn from unsuccessful policy change efforts and incorporating multi-sectoral actions at the state level.