TY - JOUR
T1 - Peer effects and the Freshman 15
T2 - Evidence from a natural experiment
AU - Yakusheva, Olga
AU - Kapinos, Kandice
AU - Weiss, Marianne
PY - 2011/3
Y1 - 2011/3
N2 - This study investigates the importance of peer effects in explaining weight gain among freshman college students. We exploit a natural experiment that takes place on most college campuses in the US - randomized roommate assignments. While previous studies suggest that having an obese spouse, friend, or sibling increases one's likelihood of becoming obese, these social interactions are clearly non-random. We collect data from female students living on campus at a private Midwestern university at the beginning and end of their first year of college. Our findings suggest that the amount of weight gained during the freshman year is strongly and negatively correlated to the roommate's initial weight. Further, our analysis of behaviors suggests that female students adopt some of their roommates' weight-loss behaviors which cause them to gain less weight than they otherwise would have. In particular, we find evidence that this effect may be through influences in eating, exercise, and use of weight loss supplements.
AB - This study investigates the importance of peer effects in explaining weight gain among freshman college students. We exploit a natural experiment that takes place on most college campuses in the US - randomized roommate assignments. While previous studies suggest that having an obese spouse, friend, or sibling increases one's likelihood of becoming obese, these social interactions are clearly non-random. We collect data from female students living on campus at a private Midwestern university at the beginning and end of their first year of college. Our findings suggest that the amount of weight gained during the freshman year is strongly and negatively correlated to the roommate's initial weight. Further, our analysis of behaviors suggests that female students adopt some of their roommates' weight-loss behaviors which cause them to gain less weight than they otherwise would have. In particular, we find evidence that this effect may be through influences in eating, exercise, and use of weight loss supplements.
KW - Natural experiment
KW - Peer effects
KW - Weight gain
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79952312324&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79952312324&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ehb.2010.12.002
DO - 10.1016/j.ehb.2010.12.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 21216679
AN - SCOPUS:79952312324
SN - 1570-677X
VL - 9
SP - 119
EP - 132
JO - Economics and Human Biology
JF - Economics and Human Biology
IS - 2
ER -