Session: Dimensions of Obesity: Norms, Perceptions and Environment
Room: Phillips 403
Time: Tue 13:15-14:45

Presenter: Frank Heiland (City University of New York. )

Discussant: Diane Gibson (City University of New York)

Abstract

Body size is a prominent aspect of appearance, and as such is subject to aesthetic judgements; judgements which may differ from those based purely on health. Individuals judge their own size and the sizes of others, and in turn are judged by others on the basis of body size. Stigmatization of overweight and obese people is widely documented and takes various forms, including social exclusion, mistreatment by doctors, public ridicule and labor market penalties. The consequences of obesity may differ by race as a result of cultural differences in ideal body size, obesity stigma, and related identity prescriptions. Discrimination of female body size in adolescents’ relationship markets has received little attention and the present research provides the first estimates of race-specific effects of BMI and obesity on relationship experiences and intimate behaviors.

Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health, we estimate the effects of BMI and obesity on the probability of having had sex, being in a romantic relationship, and nine other important dating and sexual experiences. We find that obese white female adolescents are less likely to be in a romantic relationship compared to their non-obese counterparts. In addition, conditional on having dating experience, obese white girls are less likely to have been intimate and to have had sex. We find no significant differences in relationship experiences and sexual behaviors between obese and non-obese black female adolescents.

We estimate models controlling for age, grade, religion, US born, first born, number of siblings, age when moved in the current location, attitudes towards sex (believes sex will make her more attractive to the opposite sex, believes friends will respect her more if she has sex), consumed alcohol in the past month, used illegal drug in the past month, lives with both biological parents, mother has college degree, father has college degree, family on welfare, parent chose current location because of school district, mother approves sex with romantic partner, mother approves sex at the current age and school-level fixed effects. We find that obese white female adolescents are 20% less likely to be in a romantic relationship compared to their non-obese counterparts. In addition, conditional on having dating experience, obese white girls are 12-14% less likely to have been intimate and to have had sex. We find no statistically significant differences in relationship experiences and sexual behaviors between obese and non-obese black female adolescents.

Similar effect sizes are obtained from models using either lagged body size measures or an IV strategy. This supports a causal interpretation of the estimates. The estimated effects of BMI and obesity are also robust to the inclusion of measures of physical attractiveness as reported by the interviewer, self-rated health and physical activity levels, and mental health and self-esteem. This further supports the hypothesis that body size is an important attribute in the relationship market of white female adolescents, complementing other priced characteristics like fitness and health and broad measures physical attractiveness.

Key Terms

Body Weight, Sexual Behaviors, Racial Disparities

Authors:

Mir Ali (University of Toledo. Economics) and Frank Heiland (Baruch College. CUNY Institute for Demographic Research)