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Abstract
With this study, we investigate the effects of changes in economic factors on body weight by
constructing a utility theoretic model. The model is empirically estimated by combining
data on individuals’ body weight, demographic and physical activity information, and statelevel
measures pertaining to the prices of food away from home, food at home, and wages.
By combining these data sources, we aim to estimate directly the weight effects of price and
income changes. The empirical analysis suggests that decreasing the price of food at home
could decrease body weight, a finding which has important public policy implications.