Global impact on human obesity – A robust non-linear panel data analysis

Munir M., Zakaria Z. A., Baig A. A., Mohamad M. B., Arshed N., ALHAJJ R.

Nutrition and Health, vol.30, no.3, pp.531-548, 2024 (Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 30 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/02601060221129142
  • Journal Name: Nutrition and Health
  • Journal Indexes: Scopus, ASSIA, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MEDLINE
  • Page Numbers: pp.531-548
  • Keywords: global economy, global education, global environment, global health, global nutrition, globesity, information asymmetry, macroeconomic policy, Perceived wellbeing
  • Istanbul Medipol University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Purpose: Recent studies in economics showed that humans are bounded rational. This being consumers, they are not perfect judges of what matters for the standard of living. While with a marked increase in economic and social wellbeing, there is a consistent rise in obesity levels, especially in the developed world. Thus, this study intends to explore the empirical and socio-economic antecedents of human obesity across countries using six global indexes. Methods: This study used the data of 40 countries between 1975 to 2018 and used the Panel FGLS Regression with the quadratic specification. Findings: The results showed that health and food indicators increase global human obesity, environment and education indicators decrease global human obesity, and economic and social indicators follow an inverted U-shaped pattern in affecting global human obesity. Originality: Previous studies have used infant mortality and life expectancy as the major health indicator in determining the standard of living while overlooking global human obesity as a major deterrent to welfare. This study has provided a holistic assessment of the causes of obesity in global contexts.