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Temporary and persistent overweight and long-term labor market outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Liisa T. Laine

    (University of Pennsylvania
    University of Pennsylvania)

  • Ari Hyytinen

    (Hanken School of Economics and Helsinki GSE)

Abstract

We study how the duration of being overweight earlier in life is related to subsequent long-term labor market outcomes. Our data on fraternal and identical twins born and raised in the same household contain weight measurements of the twins during their early adulthood measured in 1975, 1981, and 1990 and is linked to register-based administrative data on the earnings and employment from 1990 to 2009. When combined, these data enable an empirical strategy that controls for the family environment and genes shared by twins. We find that being persistently overweight during early adulthood is negatively associated with long-term earnings for both women and men. We find that for women, the association is driven by a decrease in labor market-attachment, whereas for men, the association is driven by lower annual earnings.

Suggested Citation

  • Liisa T. Laine & Ari Hyytinen, 2022. "Temporary and persistent overweight and long-term labor market outcomes," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 181-203, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ijhcfe:v:22:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s10754-021-09315-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10754-021-09315-4
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Overweight; Obesity; Long-term earnings; Labor market attachment; Genes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General

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