Obesity, Weight Loss, and Employment Prospects: Evidence from a Randomized Trial

This study presents credible estimates for the causal effect of BMI growth on employment among the obese. By exploring random assignment of a weight-loss intervention based on monetary rewards, I provide convincing evidence that weight loss positively affects the employment prospects of obese women but not of obese men. Consistent with this, significant effects of weight loss on proxy variables for labor productivity are found only for obese women.