Welfare-work transition affected by obesity

Obesity contributes to various chronic medical problems, but research on current and former welfare recipients indicates that it also affects women's employment opportunities.

"Obesity represents a potential barrier to labor market success as women leave welfare for work because obese females tend to earn less than healthy-weight females," contends John Cawley, an assistant professor in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

Overweight white women who were welfare recipients in early 1997 endured adverse labor market outcomes over the subsequent four years relative to their counterparts who weighed substantially less. For white respondents, a 10% increase in weight from the sample mean of 181 pounds was associated with a 12% decrease in the probability of current employment, 5.4% fewer hours worked per week, and 10% lower earnings in the previous 30-day period.

Weight did not correlate with employment or hours worked by African-American women, but it was associated with increased welfare receipt. A 10% jump in weight from the sample mean of 185 pounds was associated with spending an extra half-month per year on welfare.

The prevalence of obesity in the U.S. has risen dramatically, from 15% of the population during 1976-80 to 30.9% during 1999-2000, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. This unprecedented jump makes it imperative to understand the impact of obesity, especially for vulnerable populations such as welfare recipients, concludes Cawley.

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