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Nutrient Prices and Other Socio-Economic and Health Determinants of the Body Mass Index of Canadians

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  • J. Clark
  • O. Dittrich
  • Stephen Law
  • Qin Xu

Abstract

We examine the effect of nutrient prices and other socio-economic and health factors on the Body Mass Index (BMI) of Canadians using the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). The CCHS data does not include information on nutrition intake, and so the price of fat, carbohydrates and protein are included to capture the effects of diet on BMI. The results indicate that changes in nutrient prices in the model have statistically significant impacts on BMI and the direction of the impacts corresponds to hypotheses from the nutrition literature. However, all estimates are inelastic so that the effect of fat taxes or thin subsidies is small. The results also indicate that education is negatively related and income is positively related to BMI. Copyright International Atlantic Economic Society 2014

Suggested Citation

  • J. Clark & O. Dittrich & Stephen Law & Qin Xu, 2014. "Nutrient Prices and Other Socio-Economic and Health Determinants of the Body Mass Index of Canadians," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 20(3), pages 249-258, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:iaecre:v:20:y:2014:i:3:p:249-258:10.1007/s11294-014-9475-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11294-014-9475-y
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    3. J. Clark & O. Dittrich, 2010. "Alternative Fat Taxes to Control Obesity," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 16(4), pages 388-394, November.
    4. Lakdawalla, Darius & Philipson, Tomas J., 2002. "The Growth of Obesity and Technological Change: A Theoretical and Empirical Examination," Working Papers 174, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, George J. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    BMI; Leptogenic; Nutrient prices; Obesogenic; Fat taxes; C10; J50;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C10 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - General
    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General

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