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Hyperbolic discounting, the sign effect, and the body mass index

Author Info

  • Ikeda, Shinsuke
  • Kang, Myong-Il
  • Ohtake, Fumio

Abstract

Analysis of a broad survey of Japanese adults confirms that time discounting relates to body weight, not only via impatience, but also via hyperbolic discounting, proxied by inclination toward procrastination, and the sign effect, where future negative payoffs are discounted at a lower rate than future positive payoffs. Body mass index is positively associated with survey responses indicative of impatience and hyperbolic discounting, and negatively associated with those indicative of the sign effect. A one-unit increase in the degree of procrastination is associated with a 2.81 percentage-point increase in the probability of being obese. Subjects exhibiting the sign effect show a 3.69 percentage-point lower probability of being obese and a 4.02 percentage-point higher probability of being underweight than those without the sign effect. These effects are substantial compared with the prevalence rates of the corresponding body mass status. Obesity and underweight thus result in part from the temporal decision biases.

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Article provided by Elsevier in its journal Journal of Health Economics.

Volume (Year): 29 (2010)
Issue (Month): 2 (March)
Pages: 268-284

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Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:29:y:2010:i:2:p:268-284
Contact details of provider: Web page: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/505560

Keywords: Obesity Hyperbolic discounting Sign effect BMI Underweight;

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Blog mentions

As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
  1. Behavioral Economics: Are Impatient Procrastinators More Likely To Get Fat? Yes!
    by Miguel in Simoleon Sense on 2011-03-01 23:05:29
  2. Links 1/03/2011
    by Liam Delaney in Geary Behaviour Centre on 2011-03-01 15:54:00
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