Obesity, schooling and health knowledge: An empirical study of Taiwanese women

This paper sets out to examine the impacts of schooling and health knowledge on the level of obesity in Taiwan. The results obtained from a sample of Taiwanese females support the hypothesis of Grossman that schooling has a direct positive effect on health by reducing the likelihood of a person being obese. The awareness of obesity-disease relationships and the intake of fiber are negatively associated with obesity; however, the observed schooling-obesity correlation cannot be attributed solely to any differences existing between the health knowledge and awareness of different individuals. Furthermore, in common with the developed nations, the stigma attached to the obesity of women is also found to be widespread within Taiwanese society.