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Is body weight better distributed among men than among women? A robust normative analysis for France, the UK and the US

Author

Listed:
  • Fatiha Bennia

    (CEReSS - Centre d'études et de recherche sur les services de santé et la qualité de vie - AMU - Aix Marseille Université)

  • Nicolas Gravel

    (CSH - Centre de sciences humaines de New Delhi - MEAE - Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, AMSE - Aix-Marseille Sciences Economiques - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - ECM - École Centrale de Marseille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Brice Magdalou

    (CEE-M - Centre d'Economie de l'Environnement - Montpellier - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement - UM - Université de Montpellier)

  • Patrick Moyes

    (BSE - Bordeaux Sciences Economiques - UB - Université de Bordeaux - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

We compare distributions of Body Mass Index (BMI) categories among genders in France, the US and the UK on the basis of effciency and inequality considerations. The new normative criteria that we propose are well-suited to the ordinal nature of this variable. Our empirical results, which are supported by robust statistical inference, are twofolds. First, BMI categories are better distributed in France than in the UK, and in the UK than in the US for the two genders. Second, BMI categories happen to be more equally distributed among men than among women in all three countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Fatiha Bennia & Nicolas Gravel & Brice Magdalou & Patrick Moyes, 2022. "Is body weight better distributed among men than among women? A robust normative analysis for France, the UK and the US," Post-Print hal-03135484, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03135484
    DOI: 10.1111/sjoe.12443
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03135484
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    Keywords

    body mass index; equality; effciency; gender; ordinal;
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