Head Start Participation and Childhood Obesity

Frisvold, David E.

doi:10.2139/ssrn.887433

Head Start Participation and Childhood Obesity

Vanderbilt University Economics Working Paper No. 06-WG01

45 Pages Posted: 6 Mar 2006

See all articles by David E. Frisvold

David E. Frisvold

University of Iowa - Henry B. Tippie College of Business - Department of Economics

Date Written: February 2006

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a significant public health problem that also has economic consequences. Medical research suggests that nutritional interventions at a young age can influence nutritional behavior and reduce childhood obesity. This paper estimates the impact of one such intervention - Head Start - on childhood overweight and obesity. While Head Start is more commonly known as an educational intervention, a large part of the program includes nutrition services and nutritional education to parents and children. For black children, Head Start participation is shown to significantly reduce the likelihood of being overweight or obese.

Keywords: obesity, Head Start, health, early childhood education

JEL Classification: I12, I38, H53, J13

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Frisvold, David E., Head Start Participation and Childhood Obesity (February 2006). Vanderbilt University Economics Working Paper No. 06-WG01, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=887433 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.887433