Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics
in Australia survey, this article seeks to estimate the causal effect
of maternal labour supply on the body mass index and overweight
status of older children in Australia. To achieve this aim, proxy
variables, instrumental variables and sibling-difference models
are used to account for the potential endogeneity of maternal
employment. The results show that part-time or full-time work by
the mother is associated with decreased excess body weight in
youths, relative to not working at all. Further analysis reveals
that this relationship does not operate through increased earned
income.