Asymmetric association between exposure to obesity and weight gain among adolescents

Citation

Yang, M. & Huang, R. (2014). Asymmetric association between exposure to obesity and weight gain among adolescents. Eastern Economic Journal. vol. 40 (1) pp. 96-118

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. © 2014 EEA.

URL

http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84890501933&partnerID=40&md5=4a9874a57dbe1d69ddb0340729c29fa5

Keyword(s)

adolescents

Notes

Export Date: 3 January 2014

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Eastern Economic Journal

Author(s)

Yang, M.
Huang, R.

Year Published

2014

Volume Number

40

Issue Number

1

Pages

96-118

DOI

10.1057/eej.2013.1

Reference ID

4782