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Obesity, Affluence and Urbanisation in India

Author

Listed:
  • Raghav Gaiha
  • Raghbendra Jha
  • Vani S. Kulkarni

Abstract

Based on data collected from a representative national sample, India Human Development Survey 2005, this paper investigates the links between obesity among children and among adults with a number of socio economic characteristics as well as household and location specific variables. Both child and adult obesity are far from negligible, which is a matter of concern, given the links between obesity and some diseases. There are strong links between socio-economic indicators and risk of obesity. In particular, affluence has a robust link to obesity. Among children, taller children in more affluent households are more prone to obesity. Some demographic characteristics matter too, for example, both child and adult obesity rise with age but at a diminishing rate. Location also influences chances of obesity. Relative food price effects matter too through calorie, protein, fat and other nutrient intakes. A number of policy conclusions are also advanced.

Suggested Citation

  • Raghav Gaiha & Raghbendra Jha & Vani S. Kulkarni, 2010. "Obesity, Affluence and Urbanisation in India," ASARC Working Papers 2010-10, The Australian National University, Australia South Asia Research Centre.
    • Handle: RePEc:pas:asarcc:2010-10
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    File URL: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/acde/asarc/pdf/papers/2010/WP2010_10.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Manoj K. Pandey, 2013. "Elderly's Health Shocks and Household's Ex-ante Poverty in India," ASARC Working Papers 2013-01, The Australian National University, Australia South Asia Research Centre.
    2. Raghbendra Jha & Raghav Gaiha & Anil B. Deolalikar, 2014. "Overview: Handbook on Food: Demand, Supply, Sustainability and Security," Chapters, in: Raghbendra Jha & Raghav Gaiha & Anil B. Deolalikar (ed.), Handbook on Food, chapter 1, pages 1-21, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Sengupta, Angan & Angeli, Federica & Syamala, Thelakkat S. & Dagnelie, Pieter C. & Schayck, C.P. van, 2015. "Overweight and obesity prevalence among Indian women by place of residence and socio-economic status: Contrasting patterns from ‘underweight states’ and ‘overweight states’ of India," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 161-169.
    4. Römling, Cornelia & Qaim, Matin, 2011. "Direct and Indirect Determinants of Obesity: The Case of Indonesia," Proceedings of the German Development Economics Conference, Berlin 2011 70, Verein für Socialpolitik, Research Committee Development Economics.
    5. Dodd, Warren & King, Nia & Humphries, Sally & Little, Matthew & Dewey, Cate, 2016. "Self-reported morbidity and health service utilization in rural Tamil Nadu, India," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 118-125.
    6. Romling, Cornelia & Qaim, Matin, 2011. "Direct and Indirect Determinants of Obesity: The Case of Indonesia," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 108350, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    7. Roemling, Cornelia & Qaim, Matin, 2012. "Obesity Trends, Determinants and Policy Implications in Indonesia," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126208, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    8. repec:zbw:gdec11:aglobalfooddiscussionpapersx4 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Raghav Gaiha & Raghbendra Jha & Vani S. Kulkarni, 2010. "Diets, Nutrition and Poverty: The Indian Experience," ASARC Working Papers 2010-20, The Australian National University, Australia South Asia Research Centre.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    obesity; affluence; socio-economic characteristics; gender; India;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • E10 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - General

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