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Consequences of the obesity epidemic for immigrants

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  • Laura Argys

    (University of Colorado Denver, USA, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

Upon arrival in a host country, immigrants often have lower obesity rates (as measured for instance by BMI—body mass index) than their native counterparts do, but these rates converge over time. In light of the worldwide obesity epidemic and the flow of immigrants into host countries with higher obesity rates, it is important to understand the consequences of such assimilation. Policymakers could benefit from a discussion of the impact of immigrant obesity on labor market outcomes and the use of public services. In particular, policies could find ways to improve immigrants’ access to health care for both the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Argys, 2015. "Consequences of the obesity epidemic for immigrants," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 210-210, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:y:2015:n:210
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Creighton, Mathew J. & Goldman, Noreen & Pebley, Anne R. & Chung, Chang Y., 2012. "Durational and generational differences in Mexican immigrant obesity: Is acculturation the explanation?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 300-310.
    2. Susan Averett & Laura Argys & Jennifer Kohn, 2012. "Immigration, obesity and labor market outcomes in the UK," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 1(1), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Amelie F. Constant & Klaus F. Zimmermann (ed.), 2013. "International Handbook on the Economics of Migration," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 4026.
    4. Heather Antecol & Kelly Bedard, 2006. "Unhealthy assimilation: Why do immigrants converge to American health status levels?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 43(2), pages 337-360, May.
    5. Cawley, John & Han, Euna & Norton, Edward C., 2009. "Obesity and labor market outcomes among legal immigrants to the United States from developing countries," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 153-164, July.
    6. Bates, L.M. & Acevedo-Garcia, D. & Alegría, M. & Krieger, N., 2008. "Immigration and generational trends in body mass index and obesity in the United States: Results of the National Latino and Asian American Survey, 2002-2003," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(1), pages 70-77.
    7. Neeraj Kaushal, 2009. "Adversities of acculturation? Prevalence of obesity among immigrants," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(3), pages 291-303, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hadis Dastgerdizad & Rachael D. Dombrowski & Bree Bode & Kathryn A. G. Knoff & Noel Kulik & James Mallare & Ravneet Kaur & Heather Dillaway, 2023. "Community Solutions to Increase the Healthfulness of Grocery Stores: Perspectives of Immigrant Parents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(15), pages 1-20, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    immigrants; obesity; BMI; assimilation; employment; wages;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers

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