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Life Satisfaction and Body Mass Index: Estimating the Monetary Value of Achieving Optimal Body Weight

Author

Listed:
  • Kristjana Baldursdottir
  • Paul McNamee
  • Edward C. Norton
  • Tinna Laufey Asgeirsdóttir

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, obesity is one of the greatest public-health challenges of the 21st century. Body weight is also known to affect individuals’ self-esteem and interpersonal relationships, including romantic ones. We estimate “utility-maximizing” Body Mass Index (BMI) and calculate the implied monetary value of changes in both individual and spousal BMI, using the compensating income variation method and data from the Swiss Household Panel. Two-stage least squares models are estimated for women and men separately, with mother’s education as an instrument to account for the potential endogeneity in income. Results suggest that the optimal own BMI is 27.4 and 22.7 for men and women, respectively. The annual value of reaching optimal weight ranges from $3,235 for underweight women to $32,378 for obese women and from $19,088 for underweight men to $43,175 for obese men. Women on average value changes in their own BMI about three times higher than changes in their spouse’s BMI. Men, on the other hand, value a reduction in their spouse’s BMI almost twice as much compared to a reduction in their own BMI.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristjana Baldursdottir & Paul McNamee & Edward C. Norton & Tinna Laufey Asgeirsdóttir, 2021. "Life Satisfaction and Body Mass Index: Estimating the Monetary Value of Achieving Optimal Body Weight," NBER Working Papers 28791, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28791
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    Cited by:

    1. Tinna Laufey Ásgeirsdóttir & Arnar Buason & Ásthildur Margrét Jóhannsdóttir, 2023. "Valuing the Wellbeing Associated with Psychosocial Factors at Work," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(4), pages 1737-1759, August.
    2. Tinna Laufey Ásgeirsdóttir & Gísli Gylfason & Arna Hauksdóttir & Edda Bjork Thordardottir & Unnur Anna Valdimarsdóttir, 2023. "Monetizing Utility Reductions Associated with Bullying," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 2395-2439, December.
    3. Ásgeirsdóttir, Tinna Laufey & Hardardottir, Hjördis & Jonbjarnardóttir, Brynja, 2023. "Putting a price on pain: The monetary compensation needed to offset welfare losses due to violence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    4. Hoai Nam Dang Vu & Tinna Laufey Ásgeirsdóttir, 2025. "Estimating the Cost of Crime Victimization: A Compensating Income Variation Approach Using Different Utility Proxies," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 176(2), pages 649-667, January.
    5. Baldursdottir, Kristjana & Asgeirsdottir, Tinna Laufey & Olafsdottir, Thorhildur, 2023. "How sensitive is the compensating income variation to severity and adaptation?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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