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Gluttony and Sloth? calories, labour market activity and the rise of obesity

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  • Griffith, Rachel
  • Lluberas, Rodrigo
  • Lührmann, Melanie

Abstract

The rise in obesity has largely been attributed to an increase in calorie consumption. We show that official government household survey data suggest that calories have declined in England from 1980 to 2013; while there has been an increase in calories from food out at restaurants, fast food, soft drinks and confectionery, overall there has been a decrease in total calories purchased. Households have shifted towards more expensive calories, both by substituting away from home production towards market production, and substituting towards higher quality foods. We show that this decline in calories can be rationalised with weight gain by the decline in the strenuousness of work and daily life.

Suggested Citation

  • Griffith, Rachel & Lluberas, Rodrigo & Lührmann, Melanie, 2016. "Gluttony and Sloth? calories, labour market activity and the rise of obesity," CEPR Discussion Papers 11086, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:11086
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    2. Martina Celidoni & Chiara Dal Bianco & Vincenzo Rebba & Guglielmo Weber, 2020. "Retirement and Healthy Eating," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(1), pages 199-219, March.
    3. Biondi, Beatrice & Castiglione, Concetta & Mazzocchi, Mario, 2021. "Demand drivers and changes in food-related emissions in the UK: A decomposition approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    4. Jan Marcus & Thomas Siedler & Nicolas R. Ziebarth, 2022. "The Long-Run Effects of Sports Club Vouchers for Primary School Children," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 14(3), pages 128-165, August.
    5. Stephanie von Hinke, 2022. "Education, Dietary Intakes and Exercise," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 84(1), pages 214-240, February.
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    8. Dolton, Peter J. & Tafesse, Wiktoria, 2022. "Childhood obesity, is fast food exposure a factor?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    9. Thai H. Le & Marta Disegna & Tim Lloyd, 2023. "National Food Consumption Patterns: Converging Trends and the Implications for Health," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 22(1), pages 66-73, April.
    10. Diarmaid Ó Ceallaigh & Kirsten I.M. Rohde & Hans van Kippersluis, 2024. "Skipping your workout, again? Measuring and understanding time inconsistency in physical activity," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 24-028/V, Tinbergen Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Nutrition; Obesity; Time use;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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