Childhood obesity and the income gradient: evidence from Australia

What is it about?

This paper examines the association of household income and childhood obesity in Australia using the first four waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). Our data suggest that the incidence of childhood obesity is significantly higher among poorer households and the inequality in childhood obesity increases as the child ages. We found that the main channel for childhood obesity is inter-generational trait: the incidence of obesity in children born of an obese mother is more than double that of other children. Other important determinants are lifestyle factors, including the consumption of sugary drinks and the amount of time watching TV.

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