TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Johnston, David W.
AU  - Lee, Wang-Sheng
        TI  - Explaining the Female Black-White Obesity Gap: A Decomposition Analysis of Proximal Causes
        PY  - 2011/Jul/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 5841
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp5841
        AB  - 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.
        KW  - decomposition
KW  - obesity
        ER  -