title: Explaining the female black-white obesity gap: a decomposition analysis of proximal causes.
abstract: There exist remarkably large differences in body weights and obesity prevalence between black and white women in the United States; and crucially, these differences are a significant contributor to black-white inequalities in health. In this article, 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 overconsumption 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.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Wang-Sheng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health