Is the nutritional status of males and females equally affected by economic growth? Evidence from Vietnam in the 1990s

Over the past 20 years Vietnam has experienced impressive economic growth which has been accompanied by increased food availability and consumption. In almost all Vietnamese regions, evidence shows improvements in the household calorie consumption and an increasing diversification in the diet, in particular in urban areas. Yet until recently little has been known about intra-household food allocations and whether all members are benefiting equally, as surveys have focused on households rather than individuals. This paper aims to bridge the gap in knowledge in relation to individual food consumption by comparing data on household calorie intake against individual body measurements data, such as height and weight. The author proposes that using the Body Mass Index (BMI) to calculate whether adult males and females are under- or over-weight for their height is a useful tool to understand the intra-household allocations and to check whether there is gender discrimination in relation to food access inside the households.

Vietnamese data show generally that even when household calorie intake is increased it takes time for people's physical states to improve e.g. for them to gain weight. Also males tend to benefit more than females from economic improvements and increased access to food. This tendency is visible in particular in the northern regions, in rural areas and among the poorest of the population. unequal.