The significance of overweight and obesity for individual health behaviour: an economic analysis based on the Swedish surveys of living conditions 1980-81, 1988-89, and 1996-97.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to examine whether being overweight (25<or=BMI<30) or obese (BMI>or=30) affect subsequent individual health behaviour, applying the framework of the individual-as-producer-of-health model.


METHODS
A set of panel data for 3,693 individuals interviewed repeatedly in 1980-81, 1988-89, and 1996-97 was created from the Swedish population-based biannual survey of living conditions. Self-assessed health was chosen as indicator of individual health capital and physical exercise as indicator of individual health investment.


RESULTS
(a) Men and women who suffered from obesity invested significantly less in their health in terms of physical exercise and reported significantly lower self-assessed health than the general male and female population, respectively. (b) Men who suffered from overweight invested less in their health and reported significantly lower self-assessed health than the general population, whereas women who were overweight--but not obese--did not differ from the general population. (c) Men and women who went from being obese to being overweight reported self-assessed health levels that did not differ from the general male and female population, respectively, but exercised less than men and women in general.


CONCLUSIONS
The results imply (a) that the individual weight history must be taken into account in studies of the effect of obesity and overweight on health and health-related behaviour and (b) that men and women differ concerning the impact of obesity and overweight on health and health investments.
Bolin
Kristian
K
Lund University Centre for Health Economics, Vårdal Institute, and Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Sweden.
Lindgren
Björn
B
Rössner
Stephan
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden