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Obesity and Self-control: Food Consumption, Physical Activity, and Weight-loss Intention

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  • Maoyong Fan
  • Yanhong Jin

Abstract

We find that despite a stronger intention to lose weight, overweight and obese individuals in the United States are less likely to meet the federal recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption, energy and nutrient intakes, and physical activity than are normal-weight individuals. By utilizing the Rotter score that measures self-control capability, we find that obese individuals exhibit a lower degree of self-control than normal-weight individuals, and that this lack of self-control is associated with poor eating and exercise behaviors, as well as increased Body Mass Index and obesity risk. We discuss three mechanisms that are regularly employed to overcome self-control problems: physician advice, improvement in the built environment, and commitment devices. Our results suggest that knowledge-based anti-obesity intervention policies are likely to have limited effects.

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  • Maoyong Fan & Yanhong Jin, 2014. "Obesity and Self-control: Food Consumption, Physical Activity, and Weight-loss Intention," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 36(1), pages 125-145.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:apecpp:v:36:y:2014:i:1:p:125-145.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/aepp/ppt034
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    Cited by:

    1. Sun, Ruoyan, 2016. "Optimal weight based on energy imbalance and utility maximization," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 442(C), pages 429-435.
    2. Segovia, Michelle & Palma, Marco A. & Nayga, Rodolfo M., "undated". "Setting up smARt weight loss goals," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 261212, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Cobb-Clark, Deborah A. & Dahmann, Sarah C. & Kamhöfer, Daniel A. & Schildberg-Hörisch, Hannah, 2023. "Self-control and unhealthy body weight: The role of impulsivity and restraint," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).

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