The Direct Effect of Obesity on Emotional Well-Being: Evidence from Mexico

Olivier Bargain and Jinan Zeidan ()
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Jinan Zeidan: Aix-Marseille University (Aix-Marseille School of Economics), CNRS & EHESS, http://www.greqam.fr/en/users/zeidan

No 1432, AMSE Working Papers from Aix-Marseille School of Economics, France

Abstract: Obesity spreads more easily if is not perceived negatively. This may be the case among the poor, for whom fatness can be an external sign of wealth. We estimate the direct effect of overweight on emotional well-being in Mexico, a country facing the highest obesity rate in the world. Individual fatness is instrumented using variation in genetic predisposition. Results confirm a positive or insignificant effects of obesity among the poor and point to a depressing effect among the rich. This is consistent with contrasted norms, related to unequal development levels, which may exacerbate health inequality and justify targeted communication by health authorities.

Keywords: emotional well-being; obesity; waist-to-height ratio (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D1 I12 I31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 27 pages
Date: 2014-07-16, Revised 2014-07-16
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap, nep-hea and nep-ltv
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Direct Effect of Obesity on Emotional Well-Being: Evidence from Mexico (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aim:wpaimx:1432

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