Concepts and methods for food environment research in low and middle income countries

Abstract

The Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy (ANH) Food Environment Working Group (ANH-FEWG) brings together food environment experts to review and synthesise working definitions, key concepts, methodological approaches and current research gaps. The ANH-FEWG aims to provide a platform of consensus to guide and accelerate food environment research in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Food environments and public health nutrition risks in low and middle income countries are transitioning rapidly. There is an urgent need to accelerate food environment research in order to address key issues of food security and malnutrition in all its forms, including persistent maternal and child undernutrition and emerging rapid increases in obesity and nutrition related non-communicable diseases. This ANH-FEWG Technical Brief represents a synthesis of the current debate on the development and application of food environment research in LMICs. The document presents a working definition, conceptual frameworks, methods and metrics, research gaps and key considerations for the future research. This technical brief is supported by the ‘Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture-Nutrition Actions’ (IMMANA) programme which is funded by UK Department for International Development