The effect of smoking on obesity: Evidence from a randomized trial

Charles Courtemanche, Rusty Tchernis and Benjamin Ukert

Journal of Health Economics, 2018, vol. 57, issue C, 31-44

Abstract: This paper aims to identify the causal effect of smoking on body mass index (BMI) using data from the Lung Health Study, a randomized trial of smoking cessation treatments. Since nicotine is a metabolic stimulant and appetite suppressant, quitting or reducing smoking could lead to weight gain. Using randomized treatment assignment to instrument for smoking, we estimate that quitting smoking leads to an average long-run weight gain of 1.8–1.9 BMI units, or 11–12 pounds at the average height. Semi-parametric models provide evidence of a diminishing marginal effect of smoking on BMI, while subsample regressions show that the impact is largest for younger individuals, those with no college degree, and those in the lowest quartile of baseline BMI.

Keywords: Smoking; Obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C11 I10 I12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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Working Paper: The Effect of Smoking on Obesity: Evidence from a Randomized Trial (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:57:y:2018:i:c:p:31-44

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2017.10.006

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