# name
The influence of BMI, obesity and overweight on medical costs: a panel data approach

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
This paper estimates the impact of BMI, obesity and overweight on direct medical costs. We apply panel data econometrics and use a two-part model with a longitudinal dataset of medical and administrative records of patients in primary and secondary healthcare centres in Spain followed up over seven consecutive years (2004- 2010). Our findings show a positive and statistically significant impact of BMI, obesity and overweight on annual medical costs after accounting for data restrictions, diferent subsamples of individuals and various econometric approaches.

# metadata.dc.rights[].value
cc-by-nc-nd, (c) Mora Corral et al., 2012

# metadata.dc.source[].value
IEB (Institut d’Economia de Barcelona) – Working Papers

# metadata.dc.title[].value
The influence of BMI, obesity and overweight on medical costs: a panel data approach