Full Citation
Title: Body Mass Index and Women's Work Behavior in the United States: Much Ado About (Practically) Nothing
Citation Type: Working Paper
Publication Year: 2008
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Abstract: Most research in the are of economics and obesity attempts to identify the cause(s) of the increase in the average body mass index (BMI) in developed countries. Common themes include lower relative foos prices, technological advances that have led to more sedentary work and leisure activitis and a larger number of ready-to-eat food products for sale, a cultural shift towards greater discounting of the future, and an increase in the consumption of restaurant and other prepares foods due to the rise in women's labor force participation. This paper includes a survey of the literature regarding women's work behavior and their children's BMIs, and it also contains an analysis of the data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth from 2006 to confirm earlier findings. Missing from the literature are analyses od women's work behavior and their own BMIs, and women;s work behavior and their adult family members' BMIs, so this paper also includes analysis of the data provided by the Integrated Health Interview Surveyin 2006 to explore these relationships. The results show there is little evidence women's increased participation in the labor force is a significant contributor to higher BMIs in the United States.
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Authors: Ball, Jennifer
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Publication Number: 107
Institution: Washburn University
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Publisher Location: Topeka, KS
Data Collections: IPUMS Health Surveys - NHIS
Topics: Gender, Health, Labor Force and Occupational Structure
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