Margherita Comola , Rokhaya Dieye , Bernard Fortin
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Heterogeneous peer effects and gender-based interventions for teenage obesity
This paper explores the role of gender heterogeneity in the social diffusion of obesity among adolescents and its policy implications. We propose a social interaction model which allows for gender-dependent heterogeneity in peer effects. Our empirical approach is consistent with the best response functions of a non-cooperative model where social interactions stem from the channel of pure spillover or pure conformity. We estimate the model using data on adolescent Body Mass Index and network-based interactions. Our approach allows us to account for network endogeneity. Our results show that peer effects are gender-dependent, and male students are particularly responsive to the weight of their female friends. According to simulations, reaching out to women results in an 8% increase in effectiveness in reducing overall BMI, based on the most conservative scenario. Thus, female-tailored interventions are likely to be more effective than a gender-neutral approach to fighting obesity in schools.
期刊介绍:
This journal seeks articles related to the economics of health and medical care. Its scope will include the following topics:
Production and supply of health services;
Demand and utilization of health services;
Financing of health services;
Determinants of health, including investments in health and risky health behaviors;
Economic consequences of ill-health;
Behavioral models of demanders, suppliers and other health care agencies;
Evaluation of policy interventions that yield economic insights;
Efficiency and distributional aspects of health policy;
and such other topics as the Editors may deem appropriate.