Stakeholder analysis of childhood obesity prevention policies in Iran

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is one of the most serious health challenges and risk factors for various diseases. International health organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), recommend more stakeholder engagement to discuss this health problem. Therefore, this study aims to identify and analyze the stakeholders of childhood obesity prevention (COP) policy making process in Iran. METHODS: In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Iranian stakeholders in the field of COP from February 2019 to May 2020. PolicyMaker V.4 and MAXQDA V.10 software were used for the analysis of stakeholders. RESULTS: Out of 24 interviewed stakeholders, 17 were active and seven were inactive. The most powerful and supportive stakeholders were the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) and the national and regional Offices of Community Nutrition Improvement. Although stakeholders like the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the municipalities, the Secretariat of the Health and Food Safety, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), and Student Organization were among powerful bodies, they showed the least support for COP policies. The remaining stakeholders showed medium or low support and power in the policy making process. CONCLUSIONS: Disconnect between stakeholders, less attention to prevention strategies, and high advertising of unhealthy foods were among the main challenges facing the COP policies in Iran and worldwide. Insufficient financial resources, little attention to the young people under 18, non-aligned policies of the Student Organization and the IRIB, and insufficient support of COP policies were among the key challenges to be handled.