Ignite Creation Date:
2025-12-26 @ 10:44 PM
Ignite Modification Date:
2025-12-26 @ 10:44 PM
Study NCT ID:
NCT03962712
Status:
COMPLETED
Last Update Posted:
2023-09-21
First Post:
2019-05-21
Is NOT Gene Therapy:
False
Has Adverse Events:
False
Brief Title:
A Natural Experiment Evaluating the Effect of a Minimum Wage Increase on Obesity and Diet-related Outcomes
Sponsor:
University of Connecticut
Organization:
Study Overview
Official Title:
A Natural Experiment Evaluating the Effect of a Minimum Wage Increase on Obesity and Diet-related Outcomes
Status:
COMPLETED
Status Verified Date:
2023-09
Last Known Status:
None
Delayed Posting:
No
If Stopped, Why?:
Not Stopped
Has Expanded Access:
False
If Expanded Access, NCT#:
N/A
Has Expanded Access, NCT# Status:
N/A
Acronym:
wages
Brief Summary:
To evaluate the effect of the Minneapolis minimum wage ordinance on change in body mass index among low-wage workers.
Detailed Description:
On June 30 2017, Minneapolis became the 40th local jurisdiction to set the minimum wage above the state level, following a succession of other cities and counties across the U.S that have passed similar ordinances since 2012. The city of Minneapolis will incrementally increase the minimum wage from $9.50 to $15 by July 1, 2022 for all businesses with greater than 100 employees; minimum wage in smaller businesses will increase from $7.75 to $13.50 during this same time period. The ordinance specifically states that its purpose is to "maintain worker's health, efficacy, and general well-being." A report by members of the study team at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at University of Minnesota estimates that the ordinance would increase wages by an average of 22% for the 71,000 city workers making minimum wage or just above minimum wage; moreover, it would affect 41% of non-Hispanic black workers and 54% of Hispanic workers, compared with 17% of white workers. The report also projects a post-policy decrease in food insecurity of 3.8 percentage points and an increase in food expenditures of $26 per week among affected workers.
The available evidence suggests that minimum wage laws may be associated with a range of health outcomes, including obesity. Obesity affects 36.5% of Americans, and is disproportionately high among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics. A study by Meltzer and Chen (2009) estimated that 10% of the increase in body mass in the U.S. since 1970 can be explained through the diminished value of minimum wages by inflation, while Kim \& Leigh (2010) used instrumental variables to demonstrate that low wages increase the risk of obesity. Mechanisms through which increasing the minimum wage could reduce obesity include improving food security and reducing cost constraints for purchasing healthier foods. However, existing studies linking wages and weight have design weaknesses that limit causal inference and the ability to identify causal mechanisms. A prospective study with a strong counterfactual condition is needed to test whether and how an increase in minimum wage results in improved obesity-related outcomes among low-wage workers.
Throughout the 4.5-year implementation period of the Minneapolis minimum wage ordinance (January 1, 2018-July 1, 2022), the team will follow a cohort of low-wage workers in a natural experiment, using a difference-in-difference design to compare a panel of obesity-related measures among low-wage workers (those earning ≤$10 an hour at baseline) in Minneapolis (n = 400) with low-wage workers in a comparison city with no minimum wage increase (Raleigh, North Carolina, n = 400).
The available evidence suggests that minimum wage laws may be associated with a range of health outcomes, including obesity. Obesity affects 36.5% of Americans, and is disproportionately high among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics. A study by Meltzer and Chen (2009) estimated that 10% of the increase in body mass in the U.S. since 1970 can be explained through the diminished value of minimum wages by inflation, while Kim \& Leigh (2010) used instrumental variables to demonstrate that low wages increase the risk of obesity. Mechanisms through which increasing the minimum wage could reduce obesity include improving food security and reducing cost constraints for purchasing healthier foods. However, existing studies linking wages and weight have design weaknesses that limit causal inference and the ability to identify causal mechanisms. A prospective study with a strong counterfactual condition is needed to test whether and how an increase in minimum wage results in improved obesity-related outcomes among low-wage workers.
Throughout the 4.5-year implementation period of the Minneapolis minimum wage ordinance (January 1, 2018-July 1, 2022), the team will follow a cohort of low-wage workers in a natural experiment, using a difference-in-difference design to compare a panel of obesity-related measures among low-wage workers (those earning ≤$10 an hour at baseline) in Minneapolis (n = 400) with low-wage workers in a comparison city with no minimum wage increase (Raleigh, North Carolina, n = 400).
Study Oversight
Has Oversight DMC:
True
Is a FDA Regulated Drug?:
False
Is a FDA Regulated Device?:
False
Is an Unapproved Device?:
None
Is a PPSD?:
None
Is a US Export?:
None
Is an FDA AA801 Violation?: