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The effect of weight on mental health: New evidence using genetic IVs

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  • Willage, Barton

Abstract

Average body mass index (BMI) and depression prevalence grew over the last several decades, increasing medical expenditures. There is a strong correlation between obesity and depression but limited evidence on the causal effect of weight on mental health. I use an index of genetic risk for high BMI as a source of exogenous variation in weight to provide novel evidence on the effect of weight on mental health. This is one of the first studies to use genetics as an instrument for BMI and to examine the causal relationship between weight and depression. Results are mixed; I find a meaningful and significant effect of weight on suicidal ideation but no effects on counseling and an index of depression. The effect on suicidal ideation is concentrated in white females. From respondent and interviewer opinions of respondent attractiveness, social stigma is a mechanism through which weight affects mental health for white women.

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  • Willage, Barton, 2018. "The effect of weight on mental health: New evidence using genetic IVs," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 113-130.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:57:y:2018:i:c:p:113-130
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2017.11.003
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    3. Hasanzadeh, Samira & Alishahi, Modjgan, 2020. "COVID-19 Pounds: Quarantine and Weight Gain," MPRA Paper 103074, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Amin, Vikesh & Flores, Carlos A. & Flores-Lagunes, Alfonso, 2020. "The impact of BMI on mental health: Further evidence from genetic markers," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    5. Xu, Wenyan & Zhao, Qiran & Si, Wei & Zhu, Chen, 2024. "Rich and fat? Isolating the causal effect of obesity on income among rural Chinese residents by Mendelian randomization," 2024 Annual Meeting, July 28-30, New Orleans, LA 343633, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Kristjana Baldursdottir & Paul McNamee & Edward C. Norton & Tinna Laufey Asgeirsdottir, 2023. "Life satisfaction and body mass index: estimating the monetary value of achieving optimal body weight," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1215-1246, December.
    7. Lucas Hafner & Harald Tauchmann & Ansgar Wübker, 2021. "Does moderate weight loss affect subjective health perception in obese individuals? Evidence from field experimental data," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 61(4), pages 2293-2333, October.
    8. Kaixing Huang & Qianqian Hong, 2024. "The impact of global warming on obesity," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(3), pages 1-32, September.
    9. Clément, Matthieu & Levasseur, Pierre & Seetahul, Suneha & Piaser, Lucie, 2021. "Does inequality have a silver lining? Municipal income inequality and obesity in Mexico," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    10. Jun Wang & Qihui Chen & Gang Chen & Yingxiang Li & Guoshu Kong & Chen Zhu, 2020. "What is creating the height premium? New evidence from a Mendelian randomization analysis in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, April.
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    12. Alem, Yonas & Tato, Gidisa Lachisa, 2022. "Shocks and Mental Health: Panel Data Evidence from South Africa," EfD Discussion Paper 22-1, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.
    13. Paolo Nicola Barbieri & Hieu Nguyen, 2022. "Diabetes and Young Adults’ Labor Supply: Evidence from a Novel Instrumental Variable Strategy," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 1-23, March.
    14. Hasanzadeh, Samira & Alishahi, Modjgan, 2020. "COVID-19 Pounds: Quarantine and Weight Gain," MPRA Paper 102679, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Victor Iturra & Mauricio Sarrias, 2023. "The Impact of Bodyweight on Life Satisfaction among School-Aged Children: Are the Mechanisms Gender-Based?," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(1), pages 135-165, February.
    16. Alem, Yonas & Tato, Gidisa Lachisa, 2023. "Shocks and mental health: Panel data evidence from South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
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    19. Christoph F. Kurz & Michael Laxy, 2020. "Application of Mendelian Randomization to Investigate the Association of Body Mass Index with Health Care Costs," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 40(2), pages 156-169, February.

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