Does Where We Live Matter? Understanding the Link Between Obesity and the Market for Food

Susan Chen, Raymond Florax and Samantha D. Snyder

No 9682, 2007 Annual Meeting, July 29-August 1, 2007, Portland, Oregon from American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association)

Abstract: This paper models health outcomes among adults as measured by Body Mass Index (BMI) using spatial econometric techniques that account for clustering and spillovers across neighborhoods. We model spatial spillovers among neighboring communities to determine to what extent heterogeneity and linkages across locally defined neighborhoods are important in explaining obesity data. Using survey responses tied to geographic location, demographic, behavioral, and environmental factors such as food retailer information, this study finds evidence of spatial dependence pointing to some locational impact on BMI. Our findings suggest alternative explanations for discrepancies in obesity across geographic space that currently are attributed to segregation on demographic characteristics. Preliminary indicators of spatial heteroskedasticity compel further applications of spatial econometric methods.

Keywords: Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; Health Economics and Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 21
Date: 2007
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:aaea07:9682

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.9682

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