The Functional Significance of Low Body Mass Index (IDECG, 1992, 203 p.): Body mass index: its relationship with food consumption and socioeconomic variables in Brazil: Discussion

The Functional Significance of Low Body Mass Index (IDECG, 1992, 203 p.)

Body mass index: its relationship with food consumption and socioeconomic variables in Brazil

		(introduction...)
		Introduction
		Methods
		Results
		1. BMI of adults and food consumption: some methodological issues
		2. BMI and socio-economic level
		3. The effect of age and sex on adult BMIs
		4. Adult BMI and morbidity
		5. Trends of BMI in Brazil
		References
		Discussion

Discussion

Allen: Is there a difference in BMI between blacks and whites?

Vasconcellos: Yes, generally black people are poorer, so it is an effect of income, not colour. Naidu: The North has a population with a low BMI. If you look within the same occupational and economic group, are there any racial differences?

Vasconcellos: The data do not allow this analysis. The North is more rural and mainly agricultural. In the South we have more industry and service people. Socio-professional stratification and income shows a high correlation with urban and rural areas, so we would not compare this variable. In trying to look at income levels there is also a problem that the same amount of money does not buy the same amount of food in different regions of Brazil.