The Impact of Nutrition Education Based on the <scp>PRECEDE</scp> ‐ <scp>PROCEED</scp> Model on Improving the Nutritional Status and Growth Status of 7–12‐Year‐Old Malnourished Children in Kermanshah

ABSTRACT Malnutrition significantly affects children's health and social well‐being, leading to growth disorders, such as underweight and short stature. This study investigated the impact of nutrition education based on the PRECEDE‐PROCEED Model and the optimal food basket recommended by the Ministry of Health on the growth status and dietary intake of malnourished children aged 7 to 12 years. A controlled trial was conducted with 254 malnourished children in Kermanshah, randomly divided into intervention (127) and control groups. Data were collected at three intervals: before, 6, and 12 weeks after the educational intervention. The intervention consisted of eight educational sessions lasting 45–60 min each. Results showed that the nutrition education program significantly improved components of the PRECEDE model, including knowledge, attitude, self‐efficacy, and behavior ( p &lt; 0.001). The intervention group experienced significant increases in Weight for Age Percentile and BMI for Age Percentile ( p &lt; 0.001), though no significant difference was found in Height for Age Percentile ( p = 0.929). Dietary intake data revealed significant increases in mean calories, protein, vitamin A, riboflavin, iron, and zinc ( p &lt; 0.001), whereas vitamin C and D intakes showed no significant differences ( p = 0.675 and p = 0.610, respectively). In conclusion, nutrition education based on the PRECEDE model can effectively enhance dietary intake and reduce underweight and thinness in children by improving knowledge, attitude, and self‐efficacy.