Body Mass Index as a Standard of Living Measure: A Different Interpretation for the Case of Colombia

Gamboa, Luis Fernando; Forero, Nohora

doi:10.2139/ssrn.1520973

Download This Paper

Open PDF in Browser

Add Paper to My Library

Body Mass Index as a Standard of Living Measure: A Different Interpretation for the Case of Colombia

Facultad de Economía, Universidad del Rosario, No 57.

26 Pages Posted: 13 Dec 2009

See all articles by Luis Fernando Gamboa

Luis Fernando Gamboa

Department of Economics, Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano

Nohora Forero

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Institute of Social Studies (ISS)

Date Written: January 1, 2009

Abstract

We analyze the Body Mass Index (BMI) in a distinct way of its traditional use and it lets us use it as a proxy of standard of living for the case of Colombia. Our approach is focused on studying how far the people are from the normal range and not on the score of each one and this lets us to treat equally extreme cases as severe thinness and obesity. We use a probabilistic model (Ordered Probit) that evaluates the probability of being within the normal range or another level. We found that socioeconomic variables have a significant effect on the dependent variable and that there are no linear effects. Besides, people with difficulties for walking and adults have less probability of having a normal BMI.

Keywords: Standard of Living, Body Mass Index, Overweight

JEL Classification: C35, D63, I19

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Gamboa, Luis Fernando and Forero, Nohora, Body Mass Index as a Standard of Living Measure: A Different Interpretation for the Case of Colombia (January 1, 2009). Facultad de Economía, Universidad del Rosario, No 57., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1520973 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1520973