Development and validation of a health education module for parents of schoolchildren with overweight and obesity in the UAE

Journal article

Background: Childhood overweight and obesity continue to rise globally and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), underscoring the need for accessible, evidence-based parental education tools. Objective: This study aims to develop and validate a health educational module (HEM) tailored for parents of schoolchildren with overweight and obesity in the UAE. Methods: The study was conducted in two phases: module development, and content and face validation. The module development involved an extensive review of national and international guidelines and previous research, followed by the design of infographic-based educational messages. Content and Face Validity were performed by six nutrition experts and 16 parents, respectively, using the Content Validity Index (CVI) and Face Validity Index (FVI). Results: The final HEM consisted of 25 infographic messages covering dietary intake, physical activity, behavior change, and family engagement. The module achieved excellent content validity (S-CVI/Ave = 0.97) and face validity (S-FVI/Ave = 0.99). Participant feedback resulted in language refinement, improved illustrations, and removal of outdated elements such as the Food Pyramid. Conclusion: The validated HEM is culturally relevant, parent-friendly, and scientifically grounded. It offers a structured, high-quality educational tool suitable for use in research, school-based initiatives, and public-health programs aimed at reducing childhood obesity in the UAE.

Authors: Mustafaalsaafin, HSM; Mohamed, HJBJ; Yusoff, H; Hashim, M; Radwan, H

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Journal: PLoS ONE
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 3
• Article number: e0344967
• Publication date: 2026-03-17
• Acceptance date: 2026-02-27
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0344967
• EISSN: 1932-6203
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• Language: English