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Imitative Obesity and Relative Utility

Author

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  • Blanchflower, David G.

    (Dartmouth College)

  • Oswald, Andrew J.

    (University of Warwick)

  • van Landeghem, Bert

    (University of Sheffield)

Abstract

If human beings care about their relative weight, a form of imitative obesity can emerge (in which people subconsciously keep up with the weight of the Joneses). Using Eurobarometer data on 29 countries, this paper provides cross-sectional evidence that overweight perceptions and dieting are influenced by a person’s relative BMI, and longitudinal evidence from the German Socioeconomic Panel that well-being is influenced by relative BMI. Highly educated people see themselves as fatter ? at any given actual weight ? than those with low education. These results should be treated cautiously, and fixed-effects estimates are not always well-determined, but there are grounds to take seriously the possibility of socially contagious obesity.

Suggested Citation

  • Blanchflower, David G. & Oswald, Andrew J. & van Landeghem, Bert, 2009. "Imitative Obesity and Relative Utility," IZA Discussion Papers 4010, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp4010
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mental health; dieting; peer effects; happiness; imitation; comparisons; body mass index BMI; well-being; obesity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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