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Why has the prevalence of obesity doubled?

Author

Listed:
  • Charles L. Baum

    (Middle Tennessee State University)

  • Shin-Yi Chou

    (Lehigh University
    National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER))

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity has doubled over the last 25 years. We estimate the effects of multiple socio-environmental factors (e.g., physical demands at work, restaurants, food prices, cigarette smoking, food stamps, and urban sprawl) on obesity using NLSY data. Then we use the Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition technique to approximate the contribution of each socio-environmental factor to the increase during this time. Many socio-environmental factors significantly affect weight, but none are able to explain a large portion of the obesity increase. Decreases in cigarette smoking consistently explains about 2–4 % of the increase in obesity and BMI. Food stamp receipt also consistently affects the measures of weight, but the small decrease in food stamp program participation during the period we examine actually dampened the increases in obesity and BMI. Collectively, the socio-environmental factors we examine never explain more than about 6.5 % of the weight increases.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles L. Baum & Shin-Yi Chou, 2016. "Why has the prevalence of obesity doubled?," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 251-267, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:reveho:v:14:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s11150-015-9298-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11150-015-9298-5
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Obesity; Overweight; Body mass index (BMI);
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health

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