Health in Transition: New Evidence on Obesity Dynamics in Post-Soviet Countries

Gasim N., YILDIRIM S., Eylasov N., Durmuş A., ÇOBAN H.

Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1177/10105395251387223
  • Dergi Adı: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Index Islamicus, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Veterinary Science Database
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: obesity, augmented ARDL, Kuznets curve, economic growth, FADF-SB, unemployment rate
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study investigates the impact of economic growth and unemployment on obesity within the Obesity Kuznets Curve (OKC) framework across 15 post-Soviet countries using annual data from 1991 to 2016. Employing the Augmented ARDL (A-ARDL) cointegration test for the first time in this context, the study reveals cointegration in nine countries, with the OKC hypothesis validated for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. Initial economic growth increases obesity rates, but beyond specific GDP thresholds, healthier lifestyles emerge. The FADF-SB unit root test confirms variable stationarity at varying levels. Findings also highlight unemployment’s diverse regional effects: a negative impact in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan but a positive one elsewhere. The Fourier Toda-Yamamoto test identifies bidirectional causality between GDP and obesity in Kyrgyzstan and varying causal relationships in other countries. These results emphasize the complex interplay between economic and health factors, informing policies to address obesity trends in transitioning economies.