Work

The Importance of Parental Knowledge and Social Norms: Evidence from Weight Report Cards in Mexico

Year: 2013

Type: report

Abstract: The rise of childhood obesity in less developed countries is often overlooked.We study the impact of body weight report cards in Mexico.The report cards increased parental knowledge and shifted parental attitudes about children's weight.We observe no meaningful changes in parental behaviors or children's body mass index.Interestingly, parents of children in the most obese classrooms were less likely to report that their obese child weighed too much relative to those in the least obese classrooms.As obesity rates increase, reference points for appropriate body weights may rise, making it more difficult to lower obesity rates.

Source: National Bureau of Economic Research

DOI: 10.3386/w19344

Authors: Silvia Prina, Heather Royer

Institutions: National Bureau of Economic Research, El Colegio de México, University of California, Santa Barbara, Cornell University, Case Western Reserve University

Language: English

Topic: Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Russell Sage Foundation, Sage Foundation, RAND Corporation

OpenAlex ID: W1550304380

Cites: 61

Cited by: 8

Related to: 10