Bmi and Cognition at Old-age Are Obese Elders Working More or Less, and Why? Bmi and Cognition at Old-age

Old-age obesity is prevalent and increasing; there is no systematic research on the labor market outcomes of obese elders. Using the data on men aged 70-79 from the Health and Retirement Study and panel econometrics allowing for individual fixed-effects, we present evidence that obesity increases labor supply at old-age: an increase among the obese, compared to the normal weight, of 3.8 percentage points in labor force participation, 1.8 percentage points in holding a second job, and 4.2 percentage points in self-employment, as well as 1.347 and 0.5 hours worked each week at the main and second job, respectively. We then attempt to uncover potential pathways that may link obesity with labor market outcomes, such as chronic diseases, depressive symptoms, health status, incomes and wealth, medical expenses, expected life expectancy, job market attachment and health behaviors, and find strong evidence supporting that the estimated obesity-work link operates through these hypothesized pathways. JEL Classification: J14, J20, I12.