The adverse effects of weight reports in schools

Using rich survey data for England, we investigate whether providing parents with information about the weight status of their children reduces children's weight and improves health behaviors, or whether it has adverse effects. We exploit the timing of survey interview compared to the timing of sending out weight reports to parents in a difference-in-differences framework. Our analysis does not reveal the intended effects on body weight or health behaviors. Instead, we find adverse effects for children with overweight that are concentrated in disadvantaged families and driven by increases in breakfast skipping and feeling tired and unhappy at school.