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Body mass, nutrition, and disease: nineteenth century current net nutrition during economic development

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  • Scott Alan Carson

    (University of Texas
    University of Munich and CESifo)

Abstract

When other measures for material welfare are scarce or unreliable, the use of average stature and body mass index (BMI) values are related to net nutrition and health. BMI reflects the current difference between calories consumed, calories required for work, basal metabolism, and nutrition required to withstand disease and climatic environments. This study evaluates nineteenth century macro-level nutrition and diseases associated with US BMI variation. Body mass was positively related to calories from dairy products and inversely related to malaria, which had a larger effect on net-nutrition than cholera. After controlling for nutrition and disease, black BMIs and weights were greater than white’s, indicating that nineteenth century social preferences are an unlikely explanation for taller, fairer complexioned whites.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott Alan Carson, 2022. "Body mass, nutrition, and disease: nineteenth century current net nutrition during economic development," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 37-65, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbioec:v:24:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s10818-021-09320-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10818-021-09320-0
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