TABLE 2.

Benefits and challenges to systems science methods in nutrition D&I¹

Benefits	Challenges
Provides methods for D&I planning and predicting	Methodological and conceptual challenges of measuring sustainability
Provides frameworks and models to organize and design implementation	Inconsistent knowledge translation in nutrition and diet research
Helps to understand and predict knowledge and communication patterns	Capacity building and resources to implement complex interventions
Systems science assisted in visualizing and modeling the complexities of nutrition D&I research	Limited “real-world” interventions and implications
Useful in understanding barriers for nutrition education and interventions	Inconsistent and varying language within D&I and systems science

¹D&I, dissemination and implementation.