Measuring distributional inequality: Relative body mass index distributions by gender,race/ethnicity,and education,United States (1999-2006)

Few studies consider obesity inequalities as a distributional property. this study uses relative distribution methods to explore inequalities in body mass index (bmi; kg/m2). data from 1999-2006 from the national health and nutrition examination survey were used to compare bmi distributions by gender,black/white race,and education subgroups in the united states. for men,comparisons between whites and blacks show a polarized relative distribution,with more black men at increased risk of over or underweight. comparisons by education (overall and within race/ethnic groups) effects also show a polarized relative distribution,with more cases of the least educated men at the upper and lower tails of the bmi distribution. for women,blacks have a greater probability of high bmi values largely due to a right-shifted bmi distribution relative to white women. women with less education also have a bmi distribution shifted to the right compared to the most educated women. © 2010 brian c. houle.