Steven Suranovic
George Washington University
Department of Economics
Elliott School of International Affairs
1957 E St. N.W., Room 502B
Washington DC 20052
E-Mail: 
Institutional Affiliation: George Washington University
Information about this author at RePEc
NBER Working Papers and Publications
April 2009 | Can A Rational Choice Framework Make Sense of Anorexia Nervosa?
with Robert S. Goldfarb, Thomas C. Leonard, Sara Markowitz: w14838
Can a rational choice modeling framework help broaden our understanding of anorexia nervosa? This question is interesting because anorexia nervosa is a serious health concern, and because of the following issue: could a rational choice approach shed useful light on a condition which appears to involve "choosing" to be ill? We present a model of weight choice and dieting applicable to anorexia nervosa, and the sometimes-associated purging behavior. We also present empirical evidence about factors possibly contributing to anorexia nervosa. We offer this analysis as a consciousness-raising way of thinking about the condition. |
|