Systems Change Series – Dr. Kayla de la Haye

Dr. Kayla de la Haye will be discussing how the complex web of family, friend, and peer relationships in which we are embedded–i.e., our social networks–influence eating, physical activity, and obesity, and how the dynamics of our evolving behaviors and social networks shape population obesity rates. The talk will outline intervention and policy strategies that have the potential to activate, harness, or alter social networks and broader social-ecological systems, so that these social contexts play a more supportive role in the prevention and treatment of obesity.She has examined the spread of obesity in social networks, and produced innovative findings that peer network effects on obesity-related behaviors are important mechanisms underpinning this phenomenon. And she collaborates on several projects that explore how social-ecological systems influence health behaviors (diet, physical activity, substance use) in youth and families, and is working to develop interventions that activate and harness social networks to increase healthy behaviors and reduce disease risk among at-risk populations.

Dr. Kayla de la Haye is an Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California, and specializes in applying social network analysis and systems science to health promotion and disease prevention. She is also is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Network of Social Network Analysis (INSNA), and is a consulting editor for Connections (the official journal of INSNA). She holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Adelaide in Australia.

RSVP