Obesity, BMI, and Diet Quality: How does the South Measure Up?

This paper examines regional differences in obesity rates, Body Mass Index (BMI) and dietary quality, using data from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), Mobile Examination Center (MEC). For women, BMI and obesity prevalence may be higher in the Deep South states, but the difference is explained by demographic characteristics. Diet quality was found to be lower in the South.