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School Energy Consumption and Children’s Obesity: Evidence from China

Author

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  • Shangrong Han

    (School of Statistics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Bo Han

    (School of Statistics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Yan Zhu

    (College of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Xiaojie Liu

    (School of Statistics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Limin Fu

    (Department of Sport Arts, Hebei Sport University, Shijiazhuang 050041, China)

Abstract

Rising obesity rates may lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, undermining carbon neutrality goals. However, evidence of the determinants of obesity from the perspective of energy economics is relatively limited. We contribute to the literature on the determinants of obesity by empirically studying the relationship between the school energy consumption and children’s BMI. Based on a combined dataset of Chinese children’s physical health data, kindergarten energy consumption data, and kindergarten geographic information data, we find that school energy consumption is negatively correlated with obesity, and there is considerable heterogeneity in the relationship of school energy consumption between kindergartens in cold areas and severe cold areas and between young girls and young boys. Our results are robust to alternative modeling techniques, the inclusion of additional control variables, and unobservable potential effects. We also find that children’s exercise ability is an important transmission channel between school heating and the probability of obesity.

Suggested Citation

  • Shangrong Han & Bo Han & Yan Zhu & Xiaojie Liu & Limin Fu, 2023. "School Energy Consumption and Children’s Obesity: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:8226-:d:1150108
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