Explaining the Female Black-White Obesity Gap: A Decomposition Analysis of Proximal Causes

David Johnston and Wang-Sheng Lee

No 5841, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: There exists remarkably large differences in body weights and obesity prevalence between black and white women in the US, and crucially these differences are a significant contributor to black-white inequalities in health. In this paper, we investigate the most proximal explanations for the weight gap, namely differences in diet and exercise. More specifically, we decompose black-white differences in body mass index and waist-to-height ratio into components reflecting black-white differences in energy intake and energy expenditure. The analysis indicates that over consumption is much more important than a lack of exercise in explaining the weight gap, which suggests that diet interventions will have to play a fundamental role if the weight gap between black and white women is to decline.

Keywords: decomposition; obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I1 J11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2011-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem and nep-hea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

Published - published in: Demography, 2011, 48 (4), 1429-1450

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Journal Article: Explaining the Female Black-White Obesity Gap: A Decomposition Analysis of Proximal Causes (2011)
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