Imitative Obesity and Relative Utility

Blanchflower, David G.; Van Landeghem, Bert; & Oswald, Andrew J. (2009). Imitative Obesity and Relative Utility. Journal of the European Economic Association, 7(2-3), 528-538.

Citation:

Blanchflower, David G.; Van Landeghem, Bert; & Oswald, Andrew J. (2009). Imitative Obesity and Relative Utility. Journal of the European Economic Association, 7(2-3), 528-538.

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Abstract:

If human beings care about their relative weight, a form of imitative obesity can emerge (in which people subconsciously keep up with the weight of the Joneses). Using Eurobarometer data on 29 countries, this paper provides cross-sectional evidence that overweight perceptions and dieting are influenced by a person's relative BMI, and longitudinal evidence from the German Socioeconomic Panel that well-being is influenced by relative BMI. Highly educated people see themselves as fatter—at any given actual weight—than those with low education. These results should be treated cautiously, and fixed-effects estimates are not always well determined, but there are grounds to take seriously the possibility of socially contagious obesity. (JEL: D1, I12, I31)

URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/JEEA.2009.7.2-3.528

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Reference Type:
JOUR

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Author(s):
Blanchflower, David G.
Van Landeghem, Bert
Oswald, Andrew J.

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Year Published:
2009

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Journal Name:
Journal of the European Economic Association

Volume Number:
7

Issue Number:
2-3

Start Page Number:
528-538

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DOI:
10.1162/JEEA.2009.7.2-3.528

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Reference ID:
1392

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