LiteratureReview-MariettaCollege.docVIP

The Determinants of Obesity in OECD Countries: A Cross-sectional and Time-Series Empirical Analysis By: Rachel Mecklenborg Submitted to Dr. Jacqueline Khorassani Econ 421 Capstone Abstract Obesity is a growing epidemic worldwide, particularly among developed nations. The two main causes of obesity growth include an increase in caloric intake and a decrease in physical activity. This study is a cross-sectional and time-series empirical analysis that covers 54 observations from 6 different OECD countries over time. The study includes different socioeconomic factors that may cause an increase in caloric intake or decrease in physical activity that would ultimately affect obesity. To measure each variable’s effect on obesity, a fixed effects model that accounts for autocorrelation is used. The results of this empirical analysis show that none of the socioeconomic factors accounted for in this model significantly affect obesity. Variables available on an international basis that more directly account for calorie intake and physical activity would be necessary for future studies. Introduction This paper analyzes what factors affect obesity on an international scale. Different determinants for six OECD countries, including per capita national income, female labor force participation rate, percentage educational tertiary attainment, relative CPI of gas, relative CPI of food, and the level of CO2 emissions are present in this model to capture the reasons why obesity is becoming a global epidemic. The subject of worldwide obesity is important domestically and internationally as more people are becoming obese. According to the World Health Organization, “obesity is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.” This paper differs from many studies that include only domestic data by focusing on international levels of obesity, in which only a few studies have been conducted. The organiz