The impact of obesity on employment in South Africa

O besity is a growing health problem in South Africa. This health problem could have various implications for the South African economy. The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of obesity on employment status in South Africa with the use of household survey data. The paper follows a quantitative research design that involves household survey data analysis through the use of a bivariate probit model to validate the relationship between obesity and employment. Data from the National Income Dynamic Study (NIDS), administered by the Southern African Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU), is used. The findings suggest that obesity has a negative impact on employment status in South Africa.