Fat city: the relationship between urban sprawl and obesity

Eid, Jean and Overman, Henry G. and Puga, Diego and Turner, Matthew (2006) Fat city: the relationship between urban sprawl and obesity. CEPDP, 758. Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK. ISBN 0753020645

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Abstract

We study the relationship between urban sprawl and obesity. Using data that tracks individuals over time, we find no evidence that urban sprawl causes obesity. We show that previous findings of a positive relationship most likely reflect a failure to properly control for the fact the individuals who are more likely to be obese choose to live in more sprawling neighborhoods. Our results indicate that current interest in changing the built environment to counter the rise in obesity is misguided.

Item Type:	Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL:	http://cep.lse.ac.uk
Additional Information:	© 2006 the authors
Divisions:	Centre for Economic Performance
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
JEL classification:	I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I12 - Health Production: Nutrition, Mortality, Morbidity, Suicide, Substance Abuse and Addiction, Disability, and Economic Behavior R - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics > R1 - General Regional Economics > R14 - Land Use Patterns
Sets:	Collections > Economists Online Research centres and groups > Centre for Economic Performance (CEP)
Date Deposited:	21 Jul 2008 16:02
Last Modified:	01 Oct 2010 09:12
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/19793

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