The determinants of racial disparities in obesity: baseline evidence from a natural experiment. (15th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Durfee, Thomas; Myers, Samuel; Wolfson, Julian; DeMarco, Molly; Harnak, Lisa; Caspi, Caitlin
• Editors: Viceisza, Angelino; Williams, Miesha
• Is Part Of: Agricultural and resource economics review. Volume 50:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 533
• Page End: 558
• Publication Date: 2021-12-15
• Subjects: body mass index (BMI) -- food insecurity -- minimum wage -- racial disparity; I14 Health and Inequality -- J15 Economics of Minorities -- Races -- Indigenous Peoples -- and Immigrants -- J08 Labor Economics Policies; Sustainable agriculture -- Periodicals; Sustainable agriculture -- United States -- Periodicals; Natural resources -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Rural development -- Periodicals; 338.10974
• DOI: 10.1017/age.2021.21
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1068-2805

Abstract

Abstract: This article uses baseline data from an observational study to estimate the determinants of racial and gender disparities in obesity. Samples of low-income workers in Minneapolis and Raleigh reveal that respondents in Minneapolis have lower body mass indices (BMIs) than respondents in Raleigh. There are large, statistically significant race and gender effects in estimates of BMI that explain most of the disparity between the two cities. Accounting for intersectionality—the joint impacts of being Black and a woman—reveals that almost all the BMI gaps between Black women in Minneapolis and Raleigh can be explained by age and education differences.