Anorexia, Body Image and Peer Effects: Evidence from a Sample of European Women

Joan Costa-Font and Mireia Jofre-Bonet

CEP Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Performance, LSE

Abstract: Excessive preoccupation with self-image (or identity) is regarded as a factor contributing to the proliferation of food disorders, especially among young women. This paper models how self-image and peer effects influence health-related behaviours, specifically food disorders. We empirically test our claims using data from the European survey. Our findings suggest that the larger the peers' body-mass, the lower the likelihood of being anorexic. Self-image is correlated with body weight. We use several definitions of peers' body mass and we find that all are negatively associated with the likelihood of women being thin or extremely thin.

Keywords: self-image; identity; body image; eating disorders; anorexia; European women (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-11
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Journal Article: Anorexia, Body Image and Peer Effects: Evidence from a Sample of European Women (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1098

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