Life cycle models of women's body mass index and probability of being obese: Evidence from panel data

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to develop a multiperiod, finite-life, life cycle models of household decisions on food, leisure, and health (body mass index [BMI] or being obese) and to estimate econometric versions of these models treating SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participation as endogenous. A key insight from the economic models is that households allocate their wealth over the multiperiod life cycle to equalize the marginal utility of wealth in each period. The observations for this study are a balanced panel of over 1,600 women from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 Cohort (NLSY79). We focus on the 20-year period starting in 1986, when SNAP data first became available. Women of all ages are included in the study because at the beginning of adulthood women cannot accurately predict over their life cycle labor and marriage market and health shocks that can thrust them into an economic position where they would qualify for SNAP. New findings include that a woman's household SNAP participation with or without updating for last periods health status and higher local dairy product prices reduce significantly her BMI and probability of being obese. K E Y W O R D SFrisch model, food and drink prices, life-cycle decision making, panel data analysis, Supplemental Nutrient Assistance Program, United States, women

The elusive link between income and obesity

“…Other studies are not included because they do not estimate direct causal effect or do not provide main point estimates (e.g., Dharmasena et al, 2016). Finally, some studies are excluded because they provide estimates that significantly are out of the range of what can be presented on the same graph (e.g., Huang & Huffman, 2019). 3 Each point estimate corresponds to the percentage change in log wages for a one unit increase in BMI.…”

“…When restricting their analysis to adults living in households with at least one child under 5 years of age, they estimate that additional SNAP benefits significantly reduce BMI and the probability of being obese for SNAP adults. Huang and Huffman (2019) find that over a 20‐year period starting in 1986, SNAP participation is associated with a reduction in BMI and probability of being obese.…”