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Obesity is Contagious! Evidence from US Data

Author

Listed:
  • Luisa Corrado

    (Faculty of Economics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy and University of Cambridge, CreMic and CIMF)

  • Roberta Distante

    (Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei)

Abstract

Obesity is a rising epidemic. This research study shows that the scale of such a phenomenon is due to the effects of peers on individual weight-related behaviour, as well as to the limits on dynamic behavior imposed by habits. We estimate a dynamic linear-in-means model to analyse the importance of social ties for US youth Body Mass Index. We show that imitation effects explain most of the variation in the Body Mass Index of individuals who were normal-weight and overweight during adolescence. Obese adolescents, instead, become future obese adults through wrong habits enforced by imitative behavior. These findings call for group-level policy interventions, as a social multiplier effect might take place.

Suggested Citation

  • Luisa Corrado & Roberta Distante, 2012. "Obesity is Contagious! Evidence from US Data," Review of Environment, Energy and Economics - Re3, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:fem:femre3:2012.11-04
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    Cited by:

    1. Siddiqui, Zakaria & Donato, Ronald, 2020. "The dramatic rise in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in India: Obesity transition and the looming health care crisis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Overweight; Obesity; Peer Effects; Social Networks; Personal History; Dynamic Linear-in-means Model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C01 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - General - - - Econometrics
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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