Abstract
This study investigates whether obese peers are a contributing factor in childhood body-weight outcomes. Using an instrumental variables method on exogenously assigned peers (i.e., new peers), we find that the weight of peers within the same grade and school significantly impacts body mass index (BMI) z-score of an individual student. The size of the peer effect, however, is negligible. We find no evidence of interaction between newly assigned peer groups prior to assignment. Furthermore, the obese peers variable is significant only for those peers with whom a student interacts.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 216-235 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Canadian Journal of Economics |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 Feb 1 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Economics and Econometrics
Cite this
Do peers affect childhood obesity outcomes? Peer-effect analysis in public schools. / Asirvatham, Jebaraj; Thomsen, Michael R.; Nayga, Jr, Rodolfo M.; Rouse, Heather L.
In: Canadian Journal of Economics, Vol. 51, No. 1, 01.02.2018, p. 216-235.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Do peers affect childhood obesity outcomes? Peer-effect analysis in public schools
AU - Asirvatham, Jebaraj
AU - Thomsen, Michael R.
AU - Nayga, Jr, Rodolfo M.
AU - Rouse, Heather L.
PY - 2018/2/1
Y1 - 2018/2/1
N2 - This study investigates whether obese peers are a contributing factor in childhood body-weight outcomes. Using an instrumental variables method on exogenously assigned peers (i.e., new peers), we find that the weight of peers within the same grade and school significantly impacts body mass index (BMI) z-score of an individual student. The size of the peer effect, however, is negligible. We find no evidence of interaction between newly assigned peer groups prior to assignment. Furthermore, the obese peers variable is significant only for those peers with whom a student interacts.
AB - This study investigates whether obese peers are a contributing factor in childhood body-weight outcomes. Using an instrumental variables method on exogenously assigned peers (i.e., new peers), we find that the weight of peers within the same grade and school significantly impacts body mass index (BMI) z-score of an individual student. The size of the peer effect, however, is negligible. We find no evidence of interaction between newly assigned peer groups prior to assignment. Furthermore, the obese peers variable is significant only for those peers with whom a student interacts.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042335335&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85042335335&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/caje.12321
DO - 10.1111/caje.12321
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85042335335
VL - 51
SP - 216
EP - 235
JO - Canadian Journal of Economics
JF - Canadian Journal of Economics
SN - 0008-4085
IS - 1
ER -