RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Relative Obesity and the Formation of Noncognitive Abilities during Adolescence
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 2086
OP 2112
DO 10.3368/jhr.58.2.1018-9812R2
VO 57
IS 6
A1 Huang, Wei
A1 Liu, Elaine M.
A1 Zuppann, C. Andrew
YR 2022
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/57/6/2086.abstract
AB We study the role of relative childhood and adolescent obesity in the development of noncognitive abilities. We employ a novel identification strategy, utilizing the fact that one’s body size is a relative concept and there are large variations in body sizes across MSAs. We focus on children who move between MSAs. Controlling for origin–destination state pair fixed effects, we find that a ten percentile point increase in relative body size would increase behavioral problems by two percentile points. This effect is of a similar magnitude to a two-year reduction in maternal education.