The Effects of Drinking and Sports on Popularity of Overweight Adolescents: Implications for Public Policy

Forthcoming, Journal of Public Health

22 Pages Posted: 27 Nov 2012

See all articles by Mir M. Ali

Mir M. Ali

Government of the United States of America - Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning & Evaluation

Aliaksandr Amialchuk

University of Toledo - Department of Economics

Iryna Pentina

University of Toledo - Department of Marketing

Date Written: November 27, 2012

Abstract

Aim: In this paper, we explore the influence of alcohol consumption and sports participation on popularity of overweight adolescent males and females of different races and ethnicities.

Subjects and Methods: Using data collected in 1994 and 1996 from a large nationally-representative survey of adolescent friendship networks, we estimate models accounting for school-level fixed effects, and a wide range of individual-level controls to ascertain the causal effect of these behaviors on change in popularity.

Results: We find that sports participation leads to increase in the number of friends among overweight white males. Additionally, overweight white females and males experience a significant gain in popularity by engaging in alcohol consumption.

Conclusion: These results underscore the importance of promoting sports and physical activity not only to objectively reverse the childhood obesity trend but also as a superior to alcohol consumption way to achieve popularity.

Keywords: Obesity, Adolescents, Social Marginalization

JEL Classification: I12, J10, Z13

Suggested Citation

Ali, Mir M. and Amialchuk, Aliaksandr and Pentina, Iryna, The Effects of Drinking and Sports on Popularity of Overweight Adolescents: Implications for Public Policy (November 27, 2012). Forthcoming, Journal of Public Health, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2181681

Mir M. Ali (Contact Author)

Government of the United States of America - Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning & Evaluation ( email )

200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20201
United States

Aliaksandr Amialchuk

University of Toledo - Department of Economics ( email )

Toledo, OH 43606
United States
(419) 530-5147 (Phone)
(419) 530-7844 (Fax)

Iryna Pentina

University of Toledo - Department of Marketing ( email )

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