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Energy poverty and obesity

Author

Listed:
  • Kushneel Prakash

    (Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, The University of Melbourne)

  • Musharavati Ephraim Munyanyi

    (School of Economics, Finance & Marketing RMIT University)

Abstract

Obesity is a major health concern in both developed and developing nations. Yet, evidence on the determinants of obesity is relatively limited. We contribute to the literature on the determinants of obesity by empirically examining the effects of energy poverty on obesity. Using 14 waves of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, we find energy poverty is positively associated with obesity. Applying linear probability model, our estimates suggest that being energy poor results between 1.4 and 2.5 percentage points increase in the probability of being obese, depending on how energy poverty is measured. Our results are robust to alternative modelling techniques, inclusion of additional control variables and potential influence of unobservable. We also find that amount of sleep, health status and level of psychological distress are important transmission channels through which energy poverty influences the probability of being obese.

Suggested Citation

  • Kushneel Prakash & Musharavati Ephraim Munyanyi, 2021. "Energy poverty and obesity," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2021n11, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    • Handle: RePEc:iae:iaewps:wp2021n11
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    File URL: https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/3849638/wp2021n11.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    energy poverty; obesity; health; Australia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • Q40 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - General

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