We empirically examine the relationship between obesity and urban development patterns where individuals reside. Previous analyses treat urban form as exogenous to weight, and find higher body mass indices (BMI) among residents of areas with sprawl patterns of development. Using samples of...

We analyze an urban spatial model to examine the possible link between urban land use and obesity. Households maximize utility defined over housing, weight, and food subject to a fixed time budget allocated to commuting, calorie expenditure, and work. Our model explains the observed...

Thinking like a health economist -- The relationship between health and wealth -- The production of health -- The production of health-related goods and services -- The demand for healthcare -- Perfect competition and other market structures -- Physician behavior -- The insurance market --...