Education, Dietary Intakes and Exercise*

This paper examines the relationship between education and health behaviours, focusing on potential offsetting responses calories in (i.e. dietary intakes) out physical activity). It exploits 1972 British compulsory schooling law that raised minimum school leaving age from 15 to 16 estimate effects of diet exercise around middle age. Using a regression discontinuity design, findings suggest reform led worsening quality diet, with increases total calories, fats animal proteins. However, I find these changes are partially offset by discontinuous increase activity. Back-of-the-envelope calculations little effect balance calories. As such, show two components energy provides additional information is concealed analyses only use measure obesity.