A Policy Document Analysis on the Promotion of Physical Activity among Children and Adolescents in Iran

Background: Given the alarming rise in physical inactivity among Iranian children and adolescents, the present study aimed to analyze policy documents focused on promoting physical activity in this age group.Methods: This qualitative study employed a document analysis methodology. Policy documents concerning the promotion of physical activity among Iranian children and adolescents were analyzed using the four-stage READ framework. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes through systematic coding and categorization. The reviewed documents covered a period spanning from 1979 to 2024.Results: The analysis of 36 documents revealed that current policies mainly focus on five key areas including school-based approaches, resources and infrastructure, intersectoral collaboration, education and public awareness, and monitoring and evaluation.Conclusions: The findings indicated that despite their diversity, these policies often lack coherence, clearly defined implementation strategies, and effective evaluation systems. Additionally, institutional collaboration and the adoption of modern technologies have been limited. These results could serve as a foundation for improving future policymaking.