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Caught in the Bulimic Trap?

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  • John C. Ham
  • Daniela Iorio
  • Michelle Sovinsky

Abstract

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a growing health concern and its consequences are especially serious given the compulsive nature of the disorder. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the persistent nature of BN. Using data from the NHLBI Growth and Health Study and instrumental variable techniques, we document that unobserved heterogeneity plays a role in the persistence of BN, but up to two-thirds of it is due to state dependence. Our findings suggest that the timing of policy is crucial: Preventive educational programs should be coupled with more intense (rehabilitation) treatment at the early stages of the BN behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • John C. Ham & Daniela Iorio & Michelle Sovinsky, 2013. "Caught in the Bulimic Trap?," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 48(3), pages 736-767.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:48:y:2013:iii:1:p:736-767
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    Cited by:

    1. Michelle S. Goeree & John C. Ham & Daniela Iorio, 2011. "Race, Social Class, and Bulimia Nervosa," Working Papers 2011-034, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    2. John C. Ham, Daniela Iorio, Michelle Sovinsky, 2016. "Personality Traits and Bulimia Nervosa," Economics Working Papers ECO2016/14, European University Institute.
    3. Strulik, Holger, 2023. "Hooked on weight control: An economic theory of anorexia nervosa and its impact on health and longevity," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. Joan Costa-Font & Mireia Jofre-Bonet, 2013. "Anorexia, Body Image and Peer Effects: Evidence from a Sample of European Women," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 80(317), pages 44-64, January.
    5. Augustine Denteh & Daniel L. Millimet & Rusty Tchernis, 2019. "The origins of early childhood anthropometric persistence," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 2185-2224, June.
    6. Michelle S. Goeree & John C. Ham & Daniela Iorio, 2009. "Caught in the Bulimic Trap? Socioeconomic Status, State Dependence, and Unobserved Heterogeneity," Working Papers 386, Barcelona School of Economics.
    7. Arduini, Tiziano & Iorio, Daniela & Patacchini, Eleonora, 2019. "Weight, reference points, and the onset of eating disorders," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 170-188.
    8. Yiqun Chen & Frank Sloan, 2014. "Subjective Beliefs, Deterrence, and the Propensity to Drive While Intoxicated," NBER Working Papers 20680, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Deuflhard, Florian, 2018. "Quantifying inertia in retail deposit markets," SAFE Working Paper Series 223, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    10. Ham, John C. & Iorio, Daniela & Sovinsky, Michelle, 2015. "Disparities in Bulimia Nervosa: Who is left behind?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 147-150.
    11. Michelle S. Goeree, 2009. "Caught in the Bulimic Trap: Do Eating Disorders Reflect Addictive Behavior?," 2009 Meeting Papers 241, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    12. Paul Contoyannis & Jinhu Li, 2017. "The dynamics of adolescent depression: an instrumental variable quantile regression with fixed effects approach," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 180(3), pages 907-922, June.

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