Journal article

Publication year: 2013

Pages: 728-742

Journal: Journal of Health Economics

Volume number: 32

Issue number: 4

ISSN: 0167-6296

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2013.04.003

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
The substantial increase in female employment rates in Europe over the past two decades has often been linked in political and public rhetoric to negative effects on child development, including obesity. We analyse this association between maternal employment and childhood obesity using rich objective reports of various anthropometric and other measures of fatness from the IDEFICS study of children aged 2-9 in 16 regions of eight European countries. Based on such data as accelerometer measures and information from nutritional diaries, we also investigate the effects of maternal employment on obesity's main drivers: calorie intake and physical activity. Our analysis provides little evidence for any association between maternal employment and childhood obesity, diet or physical activity. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Harvard Citation style: Gwozdz, W., Sousa-Poza, A., Reisch, L., Ahrens, W., Eiben, G., Fernandez-Alvira, J., et al. (2013) Maternal employment and childhood obesity - A European perspective, Journal of Health Economics, 32(4), pp. 728-742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2013.04.003

APA Citation style: Gwozdz, W., Sousa-Poza, A., Reisch, L., Ahrens, W., Eiben, G., Fernandez-Alvira, J., Hadjigeorgiou, C., De Henauw, S., Kovacs, E., Lauria, F., Veidebaum, T., Williams, G., & Bammann, K. (2013). Maternal employment and childhood obesity - A European perspective. Journal of Health Economics. 32(4), 728-742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2013.04.003