The Nexus between Pollution and Obesity and the Magnifying Role of Media Consumption: International Evidence from GMM Systems Estimates.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to uncover the associations between air pollution, media consumption, and the prevalence of obesity. Based on data availability, this study draws on an unbalanced panel of 28 countries and develops and extracts relationships through robust System-General Method of Moments (Sys-GMM) estimators that account for the dynamic nature and high persistence of the variables of interest. In light of previous findings, economic development, trade openness, and government consumption are included as controls in the dynamic panel models. The estimation results consistently indicate that pollution is a strong determinant of obesity, a link that remains robust through the alternative proxies for pollution (i.e., total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and carbon (CO2) intensity of energy generation). However, CO2 intensity shows the strongest association with obesity. Furthermore, the findings indicate that media consumption is an independent and significant driver of obesity, whilst its inclusion among regressors further magnifies the impact and significance of the pollution factor. Moreover, the combined effect of media consumption and pollution significantly contributes to spurring obesity in all model specifications. Thus, a vicious cycle emerges between air pollution, media consumption, and obesity, with synergistic detrimental health effects. The current findings highlight the importance of continuing and consistent efforts to mitigate pollution and reach related low-carbon policy targets. Moreover, for the sustainable reduction and prevention of obesity, these efforts should be complemented by policy interventions and public campaigns aimed at “healthy” media consumption, such as encouraging regular physical exercise and healthy nutrition.