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The association of obesity with the likelihood of arrest for young adults

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  • Kalist, David E.
  • Siahaan, Freddy

Abstract

This paper examines whether obesity is associated with the likelihood of arrest. We hypothesize that obese individuals are less likely to commit crime and be arrested because their body weights may prevent them from successfully engaging in certain criminal activities, particularly those that are physically intensive. To test this hypothesis, we use the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 and panel data techniques and find that obesity is negatively related to arrest. In one specification, for example, we found that the odds of an obese man being arrested are 64% of those of a healthy weight man. The social costs of obesity may be overstated if obesity reduces the likelihood of arrest because the obese are less criminally active.

Suggested Citation

  • Kalist, David E. & Siahaan, Freddy, 2013. "The association of obesity with the likelihood of arrest for young adults," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 8-17.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:11:y:2013:i:1:p:8-17
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2012.02.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Price, Gregory N., 2009. "Obesity and crime: Is there a relationship?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 103(3), pages 149-152, June.
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    6. Zoltán J. Ács & Alan Lyles (ed.), 2007. "Obesity, Business and Public Policy," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 3922.
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    8. Howard Bodenhorn & Gregory Price, 2009. "Crime and Body Weight in the Nineteenth Century: Was there a Relationship between Brawn, Employment Opportunities and Crime?," NBER Working Papers 15099, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    10. Carson, Scott Alan, 2009. "Racial differences in body mass indices of men imprisoned in 19th Century Texas," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 121-127, March.
    11. David S. Lee & Justin McCrary, 2005. "Crime, Punishment, and Myopia," NBER Working Papers 11491, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Beraldo, Sergio & Caruso, Raul & Turati, Gilberto, 2013. "Life is now! Time preferences and crime: Aggregate evidence from the Italian regions," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 73-81.
    2. Crosnoe, Robert, 2012. "Obesity, family instability, and socioemotional health in adolescence," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 10(4), pages 375-384.

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