Empowering Mothers in Childhood Obesity Prevention: A Qualitative Action Research Study Leveraging Home Monitoring and Assistance Strategies in Medan, Indonesia

Background: Childhood obesity results from an imbalance between dietary intake and physical activity. As mothers significantly influence the dietary habits of school-aged children, enhancing maternal awareness of obesity and its prevention is essential. This study aimed to examine how maternal support, combined with home-based weight tracking, can prevent obesity in primary school students.Methods: This qualitative study employed an action research approach and was conducted in Medan, Indonesia, from March 2019 to December 2021. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews, observations, focus group discussions, weigh-ins, and secondary data analysis. The study involved twelve participants and was conducted in four phases: diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation.Results: The findings revealed that maternal involvement significantly influences the prevention of childhood obesity. The implementation of the Healthy and Smart Child Nutrition Care Card or “Peduli Gizi Anak Sehat dan Cerdas” (PEGASDAS) served as an effective home-based tool, facilitating the tracking of children’s weight and providing tailored nutritional guidance. Throughout the intervention, mothers actively engaged in monitoring their children’s dietary habits and weight, leading to noticeable improvements. Specifically, a shift in dietary patterns was observed, with children exhibiting increased consumption of vegetables and protein-rich foods, as recommended through PEGASDAS guidelines. Moreover, regular weight assessments conducted by mothers enabled early detection of potential obesity risks, prompting timely dietary adjustments. This study underscored the critical role of structured maternal support combined with practical monitoring tools in fostering healthier eating behaviors among primary school children.Conclusions: Maternal participation and the implementation of home-based weight tracking systems, such as PEGASDAS, are effective strategies in preventing obesity among primary school children. This approach supports early intervention by providing continuous nutritional guidance and weight monitoring, which are vital for promoting healthy weight management and reducing obesity risk in children.