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BLACK AND WHITE BODY MASS INDEX VALUES IN NINETEENTH CENTURY DEVELOPING PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 October 2011

SCOTT ALAN CARSON  and
PAUL E. HODGES
SCOTT ALAN CARSON
Affiliation:
University of Texas, Odessa, Texas, USA
PAUL E. HODGES
Affiliation:
University of Texas, Odessa, Texas, USA
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Summary

This paper demonstrates that although modern BMIs in the US have increased, 19th century BMIs in Philadelphia were lower than elsewhere within Pennsylvania, indicating that urbanization and agricultural commercialization were associated with lower BMIs. After controlling for stature, blacks consistently had greater BMI values than mulattos and whites; therefore, there is no evidence of a 19th century mulatto BMI advantage in the industrializing North. Farmers' BMIs were consistently heavier than those of non-farmers.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 44 , Issue 3 , May 2012 , pp. 273 - 288
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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