Globalization and obesity in the GCC countries

Abstract

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have some of the highest obesity rates in the world. At the same time, the GCC countries have become increasingly integrated in the global economy as they attempt to diversify their economies. This raises the question whether rapid development and globalization contribute to obesity in these countries. To deal with the existing autocorrelation in the error term and the endogeneity problem, a dynamic panel econometric model is used to estimate the effect of globalization in its various dimensions on obesity in the GCC countries. This study finds evidence for positive and significant effect of social and economic globalization on obesity rates in the GCC countries relative to the rest of the world. The results suggest that (rapid) globalization can lead to higher obesity rates in emerging economies. Hence, policy has an important role to play to cushion the impact of globalization on health and nutrition.