Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

7 p.

Publication Date

1-2011

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Journal of Adolescent Health

Source ISSN

1054-139X

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.05.021

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the importance of environmental influences in explaining weight gain and related behaviors among freshman college students.

Methods: We exploited a natural experiment that takes place on most college campuses in the United States - randomized dormitory assignments. We estimated the effects of living in dormitories with varying physical environment characteristics on weight gain and related behaviors (daily number of meals and snacks, weekly frequency of exercise) among randomly assigned freshman students.

Results: We found strong evidence linking weight and related behaviors to individual dormitories, as well as to specific characteristics of the dormitories. On average, students assigned to dormitories with on-site dining halls gained more weight and exhibited more behaviors consistent with weight gain during the freshman year as compared with students not assigned to such dormitories. Females in such dormitories weighed .85 kg (p = .03) more and exercised 1.43 (p < .01) times fewer; males consumed .22 (p = .02) more meals and .38 (p = .01) more snacks. For female students, closer proximity of the dormitory to a campus gym led to more frequent exercise (.54, p = .03), whereas living closer to central campus reduced exercise (-.97, p = .01).

Conclusions: Using a natural experiment to deal with the potential endogeneity of the living environment, this study found that the physical environment affects both students’ weight changes and weight-related behaviors.

Comments

Accepted version. Environmental Influences on Young Adult Weight Gain: Evidence from a Natural Experiment, Vol. 48, No. 1 (January 2011): 52-58. DOI. Published under Creative Commons license Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.

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Economics Commons

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