Neighborhood disadvantage and body mass index: a study of residential relocation

Abstract

Natural experiments, such as longitudinal observational studies which follow-up residents as they relocate, provide a strong basis to infer causation between the neighborhood environment and health. This study examined whether changes in the level of neighborhood disadvantage were associated with changes in body mass index (BMI) following residential relocation. This analysis included data from 928 residents who relocated between 2007 and 2013, across four waves of the HABITAT study in Brisbane, Australia. Neighborhood disadvantage was measured using a census-derived composite index. For individual-level data participants self-reported their height, weight, education, occupation and household income. Data were analyzed using multilevel (hybrid) linear models. Women residing in less disadvantaged neighborhoods had a lower BMI, but there was no association among men. Neighborhood disadvantage was not associated with within-individual changes in BMI among men or women when moving to a new neighborhood. Despite a growing body of literature suggesting an association between neighborhood disadvantage and BMI, the current study suggests that this association may not be causal among mid-older aged adults. Observing associations between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and BMI over the life course, including the impact of residential relocation in the younger years remains a priority for future research.