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Adding Biomeasures Relating to Fatness and Obesity to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics

Author
Cawley, John
Abstract
The pace of research on the causes and consequences of obesity has increased dramatically
since the late 1990s. However, a great chasm exists between the high-quality measurements
of fatness used in the medical literature and the mostly self-reported height
and weight data found in social science surveys. This article discusses the scientific
value of including more accurate measures of fatness in the Panel Study of Income
Dynamics (PSID). It describes why fatness and obesity are of interest to PSID users, the
concepts they measure, the strengths and weaknesses of alternative biomeasures for
these concepts, the value added of including each in the PSID, and their synergies with
the PSID structure. Although no single measure of fatness is ideal for every situation,
given scarce PSID resources we recommend adding waist circumference, percentage of
body fat, total body fat, and fat free mass through a method such as bioelectrical impedance
analysis, as well as determining genetic predisposition to obesity.
Date Issued
2009Subject
Policy Analysis and Management
Previously Published As
Economics and Human Biology, 2009, 7(3): 307-318.
Type
article