Weight loss and sexual activity in adult obese individuals: Establishing a causal link

Arbeitspapier

Obesity may not only be linked to undesirable health outcomes but also to limitations in sexual life. The present paper aims to assess whether there is a causal relationship between weight loss and sexual activity in adult obese individuals. To address the endogeneity of weight loss that is likely to result in biased estimation results, the analysis is based on data from a randomized field experiment. In this experiment financial weight-loss rewards were offered to a random subgroup of participants and can be used as exogenous source of weight variation in an instrumental variables approach. Estimation results indicate that for obese males loosing weight increases the probability for being involved in a sexual relationship. Conditional on having already lost some weight, a further reduction in obesity also increases the frequency of sexual intercourse.

Object Details

• ISBN: 978-3-86788-647-5
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Ruhr Economic Papers ; No. 561

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Health: General ; Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health ; Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy ; Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings
• Subject: obesity ; sexual partnership ; frequency of intercourse ; randomized trial ; weight-loss incentives

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Reichert, Arndt R. ; Tauchmann, Harald ; Wübker, Ansgar
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI)
• (where): Essen
• (when): 2015

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.4419/86788647
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/111440
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET