SEP 5, 2026 · JOURNAL ARTICLE
Exercise or Extra Fries? Behavioral Drivers of Obesity Over the Life Cycle,
Journal of the European Economic Association
A rigorous longitudinal observational study with 30 years of follow-up and a large nursing cohort showing a meaningful association between early adult lifestyle and later health outcomes, but limited by observational design and inability to establish causation.
Reported
Relative likelihood of maintainin…approximately 50% higher
Variance in weight at older ages…at least one-third
Potential annual healthcare cost…at least 8%