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Body Mass and Income: Gender and Occupational Differences

Author

Listed:
  • Ping Li

    (School of Economics and Management, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Xiaozhou Chen

    (School of Business Administration, Guangdong University of Finance, Guangzhou 510521, China)

  • Qi Yao

    (School of Economics and Management, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the influence of body shape on income, which varies with gender and occupational structure in China. The data were obtained from the CGSS (Chinese General Social Survey) 2010–2017 Survey. The overall finding in this paper is that women and men face different body shape–income effects. For females, the obesity penalty is significant and is reinforced with increasing occupational rank. For men, the thinness penalty (or weight premium) is enhanced as the occupational class decreases. Body shape–income gaps are mainly caused by the occupational structure. Twenty-nine percent of the income gap between overweight and average weight women can be explained by the obesity penalty, 37% of the income gap between overweight and average weight men can be interpreted by the weight premium, and 11% of the gap between underweight and normal weight men can be explained by the thinness penalty. The findings also suggest that the effect of body shape on income consists of two pathways: body shape affects health capital and socialization, and therefore income. Healthy lifestyles and scientific employment concepts should be promoted, and measures to close the gender gap should be implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Ping Li & Xiaozhou Chen & Qi Yao, 2021. "Body Mass and Income: Gender and Occupational Differences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9599-:d:633862
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    References listed on IDEAS

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