title: A short note on economic development and socioeconomic inequality in female body weight.
abstract: The origin of the obesity epidemic in developing countries is still poorly understood. It has been prominently argued that economic development provides a natural interpretation of the growth in obesity. This paper tests the main aggregated predictions of the theoretical framework to analyze obesity. Average body weight and health inequality should be associated with economic development. Both hypotheses are confirmed: we find higher average female body weight in economically more advanced countries. In relatively nondeveloped countries, obesity is a phenomenon of the socioeconomic elite. With economic development, obesity shifts toward individuals with lower socioeconomic status.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute for Empirical Economic Research, University of St. Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Deuchert
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cabus
authors.forename: Darjusch
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tafreschi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D057217:Economic Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics*; D050177:Overweight / Q000191:economics*
keywords: I1; economic development; obesity; socioeconomic inequality