City Research Online

Abstract

Excessive preoccupation with self-image (or identity) is regarded as a factor contributing to the proliferation of food disorders, especially among young women. This paper models how self-image and peer effects influence health-related behaviours, specifically food disorders. We empirically test this claim using data from the European survey. Our findings suggest that the larger the peers‟ body-mass, the lower the likelihood of being anorexic. Self-image is correlated with body weight. We use several definitions of peers‟ body mass and we find that all are negatively associated with the likelihood of women being thin or extremely thin.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the accepted version of the following article: Costa-Font, J. and Jofre-Bonet, M. (2013), Anorexia, Body Image and Peer Effects: Evidence from a Sample of European Women. Economica, 80: 44–64 which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0335.2011.00912.x
Publisher Keywords:	self-image, identity, body image, eating disorders, anorexia, European women
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Departments:	School of Policy & Global Affairs > Economics
Related URLs:	Author
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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