OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigate peer influence on obesity, with a focus on race and sex. METHODS: We conducted econometric analysis of longitudinal health data of 277,566 public school students, ages 5-13 years. RESULTS: A percentage point increase in the proportion of obese students within the same grade increased a student's BMI z-scores by about 4 one-thousandths of a standard deviation. On racial peers, the standard deviation increase in BMI z-score is 3.9 one-thousandths for Hispanics or Caucasians and 4.9 one-thousandths for African Americans. Influence of obese peers is nearly identical for boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: Such a small magnitude of obese peers' estimate suggests that classroom peers do not play a substantial role in weight gain or loss in elementary schools.
OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigate peer influence on obesity, with a focus on race and sex. METHODS: We conducted econometric analysis of longitudinal health data of 277,566 public school students, ages 5-13 years. RESULTS: A percentage point increase in the proportion of obese students within the same grade increased a student's BMI z-scores by about 4 one-thousandths of a standard deviation. On racial peers, the standard deviation increase in BMI z-score is 3.9 one-thousandths for Hispanics or Caucasians and 4.9 one-thousandths for African Americans. Influence of obese peers is nearly identical for boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: Such a small magnitude of obese peers' estimate suggests that classroom peers do not play a substantial role in weight gain or loss in elementary schools.
Entities:
Keywords:
childhood obesity; race and health; sex and health; social networks
Authors: Michelle B Justus; Kevin W Ryan; Joy Rockenbach; Chaitanya Katterapalli; Paula Card-Higginson Journal: J Sch Health Date: 2007-12 Impact factor: 2.118