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The Effect of Neighborhood Fast Food on Children’s BMI: Evidence from a Sample of Movers

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  • Qian Yiwei

    (University of Arkansas, 217 Agriculture Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA)

  • Thomsen Michael R.

    (University of Arkansas, 217 Agriculture Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA)

  • Nayga Rodolfo M.

    (University of Arkansas, 217 Agriculture Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA)

  • Rouse Heather L.

    (Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

Abstract

We use a statewide panel dataset and an instrumental variable strategy to identify the effect of neighborhood fast food on the BMI z-scores of Arkansas public schoolchildren. As in earlier studies, we use distance from the child’s residence to the nearest major highway as an instrument for the density of fast-food restaurants. The sample is limited to children who moved at least once during the study period to ensure temporal variation in our instrument. Neighborhood fast food does have significant and positive effects on their BMI z-scores. The effect is disproportionately large for children who are rural, non-minority and female.

Suggested Citation

  • Qian Yiwei & Thomsen Michael R. & Nayga Rodolfo M. & Rouse Heather L., 2017. "The Effect of Neighborhood Fast Food on Children’s BMI: Evidence from a Sample of Movers," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 17(4), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:17:y:2017:i:4:p:15:n:5
    DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2016-0251
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richard A. Dunn, 2010. "The Effect of Fast-Food Availability on Obesity: An Analysis by Gender, Race, and Residential Location," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 92(4), pages 1149-1164.
    2. Powell, Lisa M., 2009. "Fast food costs and adolescent body mass index: Evidence from panel data," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 963-970, September.
    3. Dunn, Richard A. & Sharkey, Joseph R. & Horel, Scott, 2012. "The effect of fast-food availability on fast-food consumption and obesity among rural residents: An analysis by race/ethnicity," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13.
    4. Susan Elizabeth Chen & Raymond J. Florax & Samantha D. Snyder, 2013. "Obesity and fast food in urban markets: a new approach using geo‐referenced micro data," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(7), pages 835-856, July.
    5. Davis, B. & Carpenter, C., 2009. "Proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools and adolescent obesity," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(3), pages 505-510.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicolás Libuy & David Church & George Ploubidis & Emla Fitzsimons, 2024. "Fast food proximity and weight gain in childhood and adolescence: Evidence from Great Britain," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(3), pages 449-465, March.
    2. Atanasova, Petya & Kusuma, Dian & Pineda, Elisa & Frost, Gary & Sassi, Franco & Miraldo, Marisa, 2022. "The impact of the consumer and neighbourhood food environment on dietary intake and obesity-related outcomes: A systematic review of causal impact studies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    childhood obesity; BMI z-score; fast food; instrumental variables;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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