1. Introduction: Obesity and the economics of prevention -- 2. Obesity : past and projected future trends -- 3. The social dimensions of obesity -- 4. How does obesity spread? -- 5. Tackling obesity : the roles of governments and markets -- 6. The impact of inventions -- 7. Information,...

This paper examines the labour market impacts of lifestyle risk factors and associated chronic diseases, in terms of employment opportunities, wages, productivity, sick leave, early retirement and receipt of disability benefits. It provides a review of the evidence of the labour market outcomes...

An epidemic of obesity has been developing in virtually all OECD countries over the last 30 years. Existing evidence provides strong suggestions that such epidemic has affected certain social groups more than others. In particular, education appears to be associated with a lower likelihood of...