It's just a game: The Super Bowl and low birth weight Articles uri icon

publication date

  • January 2017

start page

  • 946

end page

  • 978

issue

  • 4

volume

  • 52

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0022-166X

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1548-8004

abstract

  • Previous studies have explored the effect of earthquakes and terrorist attacks on birth outcomes. These events are unexpected and obvious sources of distress, but could affect fetal health through multiple channels. Using data from the National Vital Statistics System for the period 1969-2004, we estimate the relationship between prenatal exposure to the Super Bowl and low birth weight. Although sporting events can elicit intense emotions, they do not pollute the environment or threaten viewers with direct physical harm. We find that Super Bowl exposure is associated with a small, but precisely estimated, increase in the probability of low birth weight.

keywords

  • estimation method health impact sport statistical data weight