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Rationality and Society
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Size Matters

The Influence of Adolescents’ Weight and Height on Dating and Sex

John Cawley

Cornell University, USA, JHC38{at}cornell.edu

Kara Joyner

Cornell University, USA, kj34{at}cornell.edu

Jeffery Sobal

Cornell University, USA, js57{at}cornell.edu

We examine the relationship between body size (specifically, weight and height) and dating and sexual activity using two large, nationally representative, longitudinal data sets. Our conceptual framework assumes that the utility an adolescent derives from dating and sexual activity is a function of the weight and height of his or her partner, and it predicts that heavier and shorter adolescents will be less likely to date and have sex. Empirical tests confirm that dating is less likely among heavier girls and boys and among shorter girls and boys. In adolescent dating, size clearly matters. For sexual activity, the results are less consistent.

Key Words: adolescence • dating • height • intercourse • obesity

Rationality and Society, Vol. 18, No. 1, 67-94 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1043463106060153
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