Potentials of qualitative modeling of complex health issues.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the potentials of nutrition-ecological modeling (NutriMod) for integrative problem solving concerning complex health issues. METHODS: Causes and effects of the example overweight/obesity were depicted in their interrelatedness in a qualitative model within and across the dimensions health, environment, economy, and society. RESULTS: NutriMod facilitates problem analysis by visualizing the multitude of interrelated factors and promoting awareness to dynamics, multicausality, and multidimensionality. It allows considering key factors, underlying causes, and feedback loops. It supports discipline-transcending problem solving and predicting impacts of measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Modeling helps to understand complex health issues and to deal with their complexity and knowledge fragmentation.