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Anorexia, body image and peer effects: evidence from a sample of European women (discussion paper)

Costa-Font, Joan ORCID: 0000-0001-7174-7919 and Jofre-Bonet, Mireia (2011) Anorexia, body image and peer effects: evidence from a sample of European women (discussion paper). CEP discussion paper (1098). London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

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Identification Number: 10.1111/j.1468-0335.2011.00912.x

Abstract

Excessive preoccupation with self-image (or identity) is regarded as a factor contributing to the proliferation of food disorders, especially among young women. This paper models how self-image and peer effects influence health-related behaviours, specifically food disorders. We empirically test our claims using data from the European survey. Our findings suggest that the larger the peers’ body-mass, the lower the likelihood of being anorexic. Self-image is correlated with body weight. We use several definitions of peers’ body mass and we find that all are negatively associated with the likelihood of women being thin or extremely thin.

Item Type: Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL: http://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/publications/abstract.as...
Additional Information: © 2011 The Authors
Divisions: European Institute
Social Policy
Centre for Economic Performance
LSE Health
Health Policy
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
JEL classification: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I12 - Health Production: Nutrition, Mortality, Morbidity, Suicide, Substance Abuse and Addiction, Disability, and Economic Behavior
Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q18 - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy
Date Deposited: 11 Oct 2012 13:18
Last Modified: 10 Apr 2024 02:00
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/46701

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