Obesity and Happiness
Survey
HILDA
Author(s)
Date Issued
2010-02
Pages
33
Keywords
Instrumental Variable Analysis
Subjective well being
Happiness
Obesity
Abstract
This paper provides insight on the relationship between obesity and happiness. Using the latest available cross sectional data from Germany (GSOEP 2006), UK (BHPS 2005), and Australia (HILDA 2007). We examine whether there is evidence on the impact of overweight on subjective well being. The Hausman test is employed in
the univariate and multivariate speci cations chosen and reveals evidence
for the presence of endogeneity in the German and the Australian data. Instrumental variable analysis is performed under the
presence of endogeneity whereas for the UK we run OLS regressions. Results indicate that in all three countries obesity has a negative and signi cant e ect on the subjective well being of individuals. For
Germany, using a di erences-in-di erences methodology, I nd that non-overweight/non-obese individuals are on average 0:5 units happier than their overweight/obese counterparts. Our ndings also have
important implications for the e ect of other socio-demographic, economic and individual characteristics on well being.
the univariate and multivariate speci cations chosen and reveals evidence
for the presence of endogeneity in the German and the Australian data. Instrumental variable analysis is performed under the
presence of endogeneity whereas for the UK we run OLS regressions. Results indicate that in all three countries obesity has a negative and signi cant e ect on the subjective well being of individuals. For
Germany, using a di erences-in-di erences methodology, I nd that non-overweight/non-obese individuals are on average 0:5 units happier than their overweight/obese counterparts. Our ndings also have
important implications for the e ect of other socio-demographic, economic and individual characteristics on well being.
ISBN
ISSN: 1864-6689 (online)
Subject Keywords
DSS Main category
Type
Reports and technical papers
