'Ecological determinants' of health in the global south: practising sustainable consumption in Kerala, India.

This article examines sustainable consumption as a key ecological determinant of health in Kerala, India, within the broader interplay of health, economy, and environment. Using qualitative research grounded in practice theory, it finds that households primarily engage in sustainable consumption motivated by health concerns, particularly regarding food safety and waste management, while economic development paradigms and institutional structures often hinder these practices. The study highlights challenges such as urbanization-related space constraints, distrust in food quality, social hierarchies, and the contradictory pressures of consumerism and environmental responsibility. It concludes that sustainable consumption in the global south is complex and embedded within existing developmental agendas, suggesting that policies must address structural barriers rather than focusing solely on individual behavior change.