What is WSA? How can it be defined?

It is important to note that this is a highly dynamic field, which is still evolving and definitions of concepts are not static. This resource follows much of the work of Public Health England (PHE) in applying WSA to obesity.  Their definition of system thinking is “a way of looking at, learning about, and understanding complex situations”.[1]

When talking about WSA it is important to take the relationship between the parts of a system into account. A system is a collection of interdependent parts and if something happens to one part of the system, other parts of the system will undoubtedly be affected. It is, however, the relationships between the parts that create the system’s function with the whole being greater than, and different from, the sum of its parts. Taking this into account it can be said that WSA represents the general idea that in order to achieve systematic change, the whole system, whether this is national, local or international, has to be proactively involved in the process. If one takes a look at fighting against the problem of obesity in a local context, this means that health issues must be considered and included across all policy areas, not only public health or social policies. It is therefore apparent that WSA must be an ongoing, dynamic and flexible way of working. It must be possible for the approach to adapt with time in response to an improved understanding of, and changes occurring within, the system.

In conclusion “a WSA responds to complexity through an ongoing, dynamic and flexible way of working. It enables local stakeholders, including communities, to come together, share an understanding of the reality of the challenge, consider how the local system is operating and where there are the greatest opportunities for change. Stakeholders agree actions and decide as a network how to work together in an integrated way to bring about sustainable, long-term systems change”.[2]

Whilst WSA as a concept has been subject to academic research there is also an emerging body of academic research specifically focused on obesity. [3]  There are also a number of tools that were developed when WSA was first applied in England.  These tools will be referred to individually throughout these WSA pages. [4]

[1] PHE Guide Base Document      

[2] ibid.

[3] Whole Systems Approaches to Diet and Healthy Weight:  A Scoping Review of Reviews undertaken through PHIRST

[4] Public Health England WSA Resources