Aims: This protocol aims to design and evaluate an educational program to promote weight management among preschoolers.
Designed Methods: This study has a sequential mixed-methods approach in two phases: qualitative and quantitative. In the first phase, epidemiological, educational, and ecological factors of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model influencing weight management promotion among Tehranian preschoolers will be explored. Seventeen preschoolers' parents and two preschool principals were interviewed by the researcher in the preschool setting. After data analysis through directed content analysis, a one-group pre and post pilot study will be performed in phase two. Fifteen mother-children dyads will be enrolled, and mothers will be asked to complete four questionnaires and measure children's weight and height. Then an educational program will be designed to promote weight management among preschoolers based on the results of the qualitative phase and a pre-test stage. Post-test will be performed immediately and three months after the intervention.
Expected Findings: In phase one, we expect facilities and barriers of preschoolers' weight management to be identified based on social-cultural conditions and the structures of the model. According to the qualitative study results, an educational program will be developed and evaluated in phase two, and it is anticipated that the educational program will positively influence children's weight management.
Conclusion: In the various communities, cultural and social differences have a critical effect on obesity in preschoolers; therefore, examining these factors can help understand individuals' views and interventional design programs to solve this problem.