Body mass index and social interactions from adolescence to adulthood

Citation

Corrado, Luisa; Distante, Roberta; & Joxhe, Majlinda (2019). Body mass index and social interactions from adolescence to adulthood. Spatial Economic Analysis. vol. 14 (4) pp. 425-445

Abstract

A dynamic linear-in-means model is applied in order to analyse the importance of social ties for the body weight-related behaviour of US youth. The methodology shows how to estimate peer effects free of the reflection problem in a dynamic context where individual and group-specific unobservable effects are controlled for. The results show that the main drivers for the body weight-related behaviour are past and peer effects. For individuals who were normal weight or obese during adolescence, past and peer effects are shown to be both relevant. Peer effects, instead, explain more the variation in the body mass index (BMI) for individuals who were overweight during adolescence, showing in this way the importance of social interactions for body weight-related behaviour.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/17421772.2019.1626020

Keyword(s)

BMI

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Spatial Economic Analysis

Author(s)

Corrado, Luisa
Distante, Roberta
Joxhe, Majlinda

Year Published

2019

Volume Number

14

Issue Number

4

Pages

425-445

ISSN/ISBN

1742-1772

DOI

10.1080/17421772.2019.1626020

Reference ID

5993