Smoking to your kids gain? Childhood exposure to parental smoking and obesity
利用澳大利亚2006-2021年家庭数据，发现童年期暴露于父母吸烟的人成年后肥胖概率高4.7个百分点，健康、社会资本和人格特质是主要影响路径。
We empirically investigate the link between parental smoking during childhood or adolescence and the probability of adult obesity. Utilizing data from Household, Income and Labour Dynamics Survey for Australia spanning 2006–2021, our analysis reveals that individuals who were exposed to parental smoking during their childhood exhibit a 4.7 percentage point higher likelihood of being obese in later stages of life. Several robustness checks indicate that the results can be suggestive of a causal relationship. Our findings indicate that health, social capital, and personality traits act as significant pathways through which early exposure to parental smoking during childhood raises the risk of adult obesity. The implications of our findings are significant for early-life interventions aimed at addressing obesity stemming from exposure to passive smoking. • Individuals who were exposed to parental smoking during their childhood are more likely to be obese in later stages of life. • Health, social capital, and personality traits are pathways which explain the effect. • Our findings call for early-life interventions aimed at addressing obesity stemming from exposure to passive smoking.