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Asymmetric Association between Exposure to Obesity and Weight Gain among Adolescents

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  • Muzhe Yang

    (Department of Economics, Lehigh University, 621 Taylor Street, Rauch Business Center, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA.)

  • Rui Huang

    (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.)

Abstract

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we provide empirical evidence that an individual's weight gain is associated with an increase in the number of obese friends, but a decrease in that number is not associated with weight loss. Previous studies of peer effects in body weight have tended to assume that peer effects operate symmetrically. We extend that literature by highlighting an asymmetric association between exposure to obesity and body weight, which suggests a possibility of an endogenous growth of obesity on the basis of the asymmetric peer effect in body weight.

Suggested Citation

  • Muzhe Yang & Rui Huang, 2013. "Asymmetric Association between Exposure to Obesity and Weight Gain among Adolescents," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 40(1), pages 96-118, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:easeco:v:40:y:2013:i:1:p:96-118
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    Cited by:

    1. Gwozdz, Wencke & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso & Reisch, Lucia A. & Bammann, Karin & Eiben, Gabriele & Kourides, Yiannis & Kovács, Éva & Lauria, Fabio & Konstabel, Kenn & Santaliestra-Pasias, Alba M. & Vyncke, , 2015. "Peer effects on obesity in a sample of European children," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 139-152.
    2. Asirvatham, Jebaraj & Thomsen, Michael & Nayga, Rodolfo M. Jr. & Rouse, Heather, 2014. "Peer-Effects on Childhood Obesity: An Instrumental Variables Approach on Exogenously Assigned Peers," 2014 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota 170387, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Nie, Peng & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso & He, Xiaobo, 2015. "Peer effects on childhood and adolescent obesity in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 47-69.
    4. Jebaraj Asirvatham & Michael R. Thomsen & Rodolfo M. Nayga & Heather L. Rouse, 2018. "Do peers affect childhood obesity outcomes? Peer‐effect analysis in public schools," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 51(1), pages 216-235, February.

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