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This Girl Can? The Effect of Promoting Physical Activity on Health Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Green, Colin

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))

  • Heywood, John

    (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

  • Paniagua, Maria

    (Lancaster University)

Abstract

Physical activity likely improves health. Yet, even as health outcomes are positively associated with physical activity, confounding bias exists. We examine a large-scale government campaign to encourage physical activity among women in the United Kingdom as a source of an exogenous increase. Our difference-in-differences estimates confirm a large increase in activity associated with the campaign. We use this as the basis of IV estimation indicating that physical activity leads to a reduction in BMI and a lower chance of obesity, but we find no change in other health conditions over our four-year window. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Green, Colin & Heywood, John & Paniagua, Maria, 2026. "This Girl Can? The Effect of Promoting Physical Activity on Health Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 18472, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18472
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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