What Causes Obesity? And Why Has it Increased so Much? An Alternative View

Challenge (2011)

38 Pages Posted: 25 Apr 2011 Last revised: 3 Aug 2018

See all articles by John F. Tomer

John F. Tomer

Manhattan College - Department of Economics and Finance

Date Written: April 22, 2011

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explain the main social and economic facts concerning obesity in a way that substantially improves upon existing economic theory. In contrast to existing theory, a number of recent health science writers have explained persuasively that weight gain or loss is not strictly determined by net calorie consumption. These writers have explained that what food people eat and the effect these foods have on hormones such as insulin and hormonal balance are the crucial factors. To understand the rising prevalence of obesity, it is necessary to take into account the growing infrastructure of obesity. This infrastructure includes food processing firms, notably their behavior relating to the qualities of processed food, their marketing of “junk food” and fast food, and their food cost reducing technological changes.

Another factor in rising obesity levels are the human capital resources of people, most notably their social capital, personal capital, and health capital. There is evidence that people who are poor in these intangible capacities are the ones with the highest rates of obesity. The essence of the theory is that obesity is the expected result when vulnerable people with low intangible capital resources encounter the many influences of the infrastructure of obesity. These people have gotten stuck in dysfunctional eating and exercise patterns which societal influences have unfortunately encouraged.

Suggested Citation

Tomer, John F., What Causes Obesity? And Why Has it Increased so Much? An Alternative View (April 22, 2011). Challenge (2011), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1819517

John F. Tomer (Contact Author)

Manhattan College - Department of Economics and Finance ( email )

Riverdale, NY 10471
United States
518-273-1851 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
212
Abstract Views
1,337
Rank
260,474
PlumX Metrics