Human capital, wealth, and nutrition in the Bolivian Amazon.
We analyze anthropometric variables of a society of forager-horticulturalists in the Bolivian Amazon (Tsimane') in 2001-2002. Community variables (e.g., inequality, social capital) explain little of the variance in anthropometric indices of nutritional status, but individual-level variables (schooling, wealth) are positively correlated with nutritional status. Dietary quality (foods high in animal proteins), access to foraging technology, and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants are related to better anthropometric indices.
Godoy
Ricardo
R
Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454-9110, USA. rgodoy@brandeis.edu
Reyes-García
Victoria
V
Vadez
Vincent
V
Leonard
William R
WR
Huanca
Tomás
T
Bauchet
Jonathan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D000886:Anthropometry; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000191:economics*; D001838:Bolivia; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors