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How do peers influence BMI? Evidence from randomly assigned classrooms in South Korea

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  • Lim, Jaegeum
  • Meer, Jonathan

Abstract

Obesity among children is an important public health concern, and social networks may play a role in students' habits that increase the likelihood of being overweight. We examine data from South Korean middle schools, where students are randomly assigned to classrooms, and exploit the variation in peer body mass index. We use the number of peers' siblings as an instrument to account for endogeneity concerns and measurement error. Heavier peers increase the likelihood that a student is heavier; there is no spurious correlation for height, which is unlikely to have peer contagion. Public policy that targets obesity can have spillovers through social networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Lim, Jaegeum & Meer, Jonathan, 2018. "How do peers influence BMI? Evidence from randomly assigned classrooms in South Korea," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 17-23.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:197:y:2018:i:c:p:17-23
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.11.032
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Peer effects; Obesity; Overweight; Social contagion; Health; Adolescents;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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