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Rational agents might be overweight, underweight, or the physiologically optimal weight

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  • Caputo, Michael R.
  • Dragone, Davide

Abstract

Levy (2002) and Dragone (2009) showed that rational agents tend to become overweight. Their result is shown to be equivalent to an assumption placed on the instantaneous utility function, and their model is shown to admit multiple steady states, including being underweight.

Suggested Citation

  • Caputo, Michael R. & Dragone, Davide, 2022. "Rational agents might be overweight, underweight, or the physiologically optimal weight," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:210:y:2022:i:c:s0165176521004560
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2021.110210
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Caputo,Michael R., 2005. "Foundations of Dynamic Economic Analysis," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521842723.
    2. Dragone, Davide, 2009. "A rational eating model of binges, diets and obesity," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 799-804, July.
    3. Levy, Amnon, 2002. "Rational eating: can it lead to overweightness or underweightness?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 21(5), pages 887-899, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Strulik, Holger, 2023. "Hooked on weight control: An economic theory of anorexia nervosa and its impact on health and longevity," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Intertemporal consumer choice; Obesity; Optimal control;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D15 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Intertemporal Household Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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