Abstract
Previous research has consistently found strong race and gender differences in the correlation between obesity and wages. This paper tests four possible explanations for these differences: (1) there is voluntary sorting of the obese into jobs with better health benefits at the expense of lower wages, that differs by gender and race/ethnicity; (2) weight affects self-esteem or depression in a manner that varies by gender and race/ethnicity; (3) weight affects physical health and disability in a manner that varies by gender and race/ethnicity; (4) there is weight-based discrimination in employment that differs by gender and race/ethnicity. Using National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data for 1981–2000, this paper finds evidence consistent with the physical health and disability hypothesis, but little evidence to support the other three hypotheses.
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Cawley, J. What explains race and gender differences in the relationship between obesity and wages?. Gend. Issues 21, 30–49 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-003-0004-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-003-0004-1