Physical activity guidelines for Americans and their employment decisions

摘要

The Physical Activity Guidelines recommend Americans improve their health through sufficient aerobic exercise. Given the required energy and time commitment of the Guidelines, we consider its unintended consequence to market work in the US. Using 2011 Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, we find adhering to the Guidelines actually raises the chance of employment by roughly 10 percentage points, not primarily because of health but likely greater socio-emotional skills.