Proximity to Fast-Food Outlets and Adolescent z-BMI: Accounting for Persistent Health Dynamics

Yu Aoki-Beattie, Wiji Arulampalam () and Neil Lloyd ()
Additional contact information
Wiji Arulampalam: University of Warwick
Neil Lloyd: University of St Andrews

No 18770, IZA Discussion Papers from IZA Network @ LISER

Abstract: We estimate the causal effect of exposure to fast-food outlets on adolescent z-BMI using the UK Millennium Cohort Study linked to comprehensive geospatial data. We develop a novel approach to modelling z-BMI persistence by clustering early childhood z-BMI trajectories, allowing us to distinguish baseline obesity susceptibility from contemporaneous environmental effects. Identification exploits the near-universal transition from primary to secondary school, generating plausibly exogenous variation in exposure to fast-food outlets around schools. We find that adolescents with at least one major-brand outlet near school have, on average, a 0.158 standard-deviation higher z-BMI. Effects decline with distance, are limited around the home, and do not extend to other food outlets.

Keywords: adolescent obesity; body mass index; fast food; school food environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I18 R14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-07
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Related works:
Working Paper: Proximity to Fast-Food Outlets and Adolescent BMI: Accounting for Persistent Health Dynamics (2026)
Working Paper: Proximity to Fast-Food Outlets and Adolescent BMI: Accounting for Persistent Health Dynamics (2026)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18770

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