Centring lived experiences in food environment research: A methodological framework and application in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Poor-quality diets and diet-related non-communicable diseases are a pressing global issue. Food environments, where everyday food choices intersect with broader food system dynamics, have emerged as a key policy intervention point. However, these environments are complex, shaped by physical, social,...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Elsevier
2025
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175898 |
| _version_ | 1855518182456950784 |
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| author | Salm, Leah Gooneratne, Anisha Perera, Iromi Gordon, Jessica Meeker, Jessica Nisbett, Nicholas |
| author_browse | Gooneratne, Anisha Gordon, Jessica Meeker, Jessica Nisbett, Nicholas Perera, Iromi Salm, Leah |
| author_facet | Salm, Leah Gooneratne, Anisha Perera, Iromi Gordon, Jessica Meeker, Jessica Nisbett, Nicholas |
| author_sort | Salm, Leah |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Poor-quality diets and diet-related non-communicable diseases are a pressing global issue. Food environments, where everyday food choices intersect with broader food system dynamics, have emerged as a key policy intervention point. However, these environments are complex, shaped by physical, social, cultural, and political factors, and require insights from diverse stakeholders, especially those who provide and consume food.
The objective of this research is twofold, firstly providing an in-depth methodological framework for taking a ‘lived experience’ approach to studying food environments which is adaptable to different contexts, emphasizing community-centred research and policy engagement. Secondly, documenting the findings of this multi-layered and rich methodology in Colombo, Sri Lanka thereby providing a resource for those wanting to understand and act on the challenges of this urban context.
This study integrates multiple participatory methodologies such as in-depth interviews, photovoice, geospatial mapping, and collaborative needs assessments engaging community members, vendors and policy stakeholders, across two food environments in Northern Colombo.
The findings highlight key challenges voiced and captured by community members and vendors, including rising food costs, quality and safety concerns, the impact of infrastructure and utilities, interpersonal trust, and health needs, which inform food access and choice.
These insights have informed community-led policy recommendations and interventions that extend beyond the traditional food environment toolbox, aiming to improve equitable access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food in low-income urban areas. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace175898 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1758982025-12-11T21:34:13Z Centring lived experiences in food environment research: A methodological framework and application in Colombo, Sri Lanka Salm, Leah Gooneratne, Anisha Perera, Iromi Gordon, Jessica Meeker, Jessica Nisbett, Nicholas diet food environment food systems policy analysis Poor-quality diets and diet-related non-communicable diseases are a pressing global issue. Food environments, where everyday food choices intersect with broader food system dynamics, have emerged as a key policy intervention point. However, these environments are complex, shaped by physical, social, cultural, and political factors, and require insights from diverse stakeholders, especially those who provide and consume food. The objective of this research is twofold, firstly providing an in-depth methodological framework for taking a ‘lived experience’ approach to studying food environments which is adaptable to different contexts, emphasizing community-centred research and policy engagement. Secondly, documenting the findings of this multi-layered and rich methodology in Colombo, Sri Lanka thereby providing a resource for those wanting to understand and act on the challenges of this urban context. This study integrates multiple participatory methodologies such as in-depth interviews, photovoice, geospatial mapping, and collaborative needs assessments engaging community members, vendors and policy stakeholders, across two food environments in Northern Colombo. The findings highlight key challenges voiced and captured by community members and vendors, including rising food costs, quality and safety concerns, the impact of infrastructure and utilities, interpersonal trust, and health needs, which inform food access and choice. These insights have informed community-led policy recommendations and interventions that extend beyond the traditional food environment toolbox, aiming to improve equitable access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food in low-income urban areas. 2025-09 2025-07-30T19:04:14Z 2025-07-30T19:04:14Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175898 en Open Access Elsevier Salm, Leah; Gooneratne, Anisha; Perera, Iromi; Gordon, Jessica; Meeker, Jessica; and Nisbett, Nicholas. 2025. Centring lived experiences in food environment research: A methodological framework and application in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Health and Place 95(September 2025): 103519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2025.103519 |
| spellingShingle | diet food environment food systems policy analysis Salm, Leah Gooneratne, Anisha Perera, Iromi Gordon, Jessica Meeker, Jessica Nisbett, Nicholas Centring lived experiences in food environment research: A methodological framework and application in Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| title | Centring lived experiences in food environment research: A methodological framework and application in Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Centring lived experiences in food environment research: A methodological framework and application in Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Centring lived experiences in food environment research: A methodological framework and application in Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Centring lived experiences in food environment research: A methodological framework and application in Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Centring lived experiences in food environment research: A methodological framework and application in Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | centring lived experiences in food environment research a methodological framework and application in colombo sri lanka |
| topic | diet food environment food systems policy analysis |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175898 |
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