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Undergraduate Economic Review

Abstract

This study analyzes the effect that an individual’s body mass index (BMI) has on their hourly compensation in their next job directly following attainment of their bachelor degree. This study uses the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth that started in 1997. This study aligned all the survey participants’ timeline of life events to be coordinated in such a way that bachelor degree attainment, regardless of year, is the common reference point. Sufficient observation of bachelor degree receipts was found in the year 2001 through 2007 resulting in a pooled data set across seven years. This study hypothesizes that individuals with an excessive BMI will have a negative effect on their hourly wage and an immaterial effect on those with a normal BMI. Furthermore, an individual with a low BMI could see a higher level of hourly wage. This study found that females have a negative wage implication as their BMI increases while no significant findings for men were found. This study opens up the significance that BMI and appearance have in a snapshot of human life.

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