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BMI Changes in Russian Adults: The Role of Health Related Behaviors and Spousal Relationships

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  • Huffman, Sonya K.

Abstract

The paper investigates the effects of changes in marital status and health related behaviors (smoking and drinking) on the body mass index (BMI) in Russian adults over a ten-year period. Smoking and drinking behavior changes have played an important part in health status changes over 1994 to 2004. The results indicate that the individual weight/BMI changes asymmetrically in health determinants; the sign and the magnitude of the response are different depending on the starting point and whether there is an increase or a decrease in the explanatory variable. Males' BMI decreases with smoking and increases with quitting smoking, but females' BMI increases with drinking alcohol and decreases with stopping drinking. Losing a partner decreases only the females' BMI, but gaining a spouse/partner is associated with increases in BMI for both genders. For married females and males, the change in spousal BMI is significantly positively related. Understanding interactions between individual health-related behaviors and the set of determinants that contribute to such behaviors is a fundamental step in the design of effective interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Huffman, Sonya K., 2013. "BMI Changes in Russian Adults: The Role of Health Related Behaviors and Spousal Relationships," Staff General Research Papers Archive 35987, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:isu:genres:35987
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    File URL: http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/papers/p15987-2013-03-06.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • O52 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Europe

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