Obesity is an epidemic that is particularly prevalent amongst aging Americans.
The economic literature concerning this phenomenon is blossoming,
but largely focuses on its causes. This work examines the issue from a different
direction. First, a Bayesian model is developed to determine how aging
Americans use obesity related health information, and if their response differs
from the non-obese. Second, a behavioural model is employed to see if the
same health information elicits a behavioural response in the form of weight
loss. This is the first behavioural response model to determine the existence
and magnitude of BMI defined behavioural changes after exposure to new
personal obesity related risk information. This book is addressed to
researchers in economics, sociology, demographics and professionals in the
medical arena.