Working Paper: NBER ID: w31226
Authors: Sara Sofie Abrahamsson; Aline B. Tikofer; Krzysztof Karbownik
Abstract: Using spatial and temporal variation in openings of fast food restaurants in Norway between 1980 and 2007, we study the effects of changes in the supply of high caloric nutrition on the health and cognitive ability of young adult males. Our results indicate that exposure to these establishments during childhood and adolescence increases BMI and has negative effects on cognition. Heterogeneity analysis does not reveal meaningful differences in the effects across groups, including for those with adverse prenatal health or high paternal BMI, an exception being that cognition is only affected by exposure at ages 0--12 and this effect is mediated by paternal education.
Keywords: fast food; BMI; cognitive ability; childhood obesity; Norway
JEL Codes: I12; I20; J13; L66
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Exposure to fast food during childhood (D18) | BMI (I12) |
| Exposure to fast food during childhood (D18) | likelihood of being overweight (I14) |
| Exposure to fast food during childhood (D18) | cognitive ability (G53) |
| Exposure to fast food during childhood (D18) | likelihood of pursuing an academic track in high school (I23) |