Neighbourhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Body Mass Index Among Australian Apartment Dwellers

Apartments are often located in dense, mixed-use neighbourhoods designed to encourage walking and support healthier lifestyles; however, the extent to which these environments benefit all population groups equally with respect to weight-related outcomes is unclear. We investigated the association between neighbourhood disadvantage (ND) and body mass index (BMI) amongst urban Australian apartment dwellers and the extent to which their local neighbourhood environment, apartment building environment, and health behaviours contributed to this relationship. We surveyed residents (n = 955) from recently constructed apartment complexes (n = 108) in areas of low, mid, and high disadvantage across Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. Residents in more disadvantaged neighbourhoods had higher BMIs than those in more advantaged areas, with BMI differences of 0.80 kg/m² (95% CI: 0.18, 1.42) and 0.98 kg/m² (95% CI: -0.01, 1.98) for middle and high disadvantage groups, respectively. Apartment building characteristics and neighbourhood characteristics contributed only marginally to this association, whilst meal consumption practises and physical activity behaviours emerged as key influences. The findings further underscore the entrenched relationship between ND and BMI, with a socioeconomic gradient present even for a population group that lives in more urban, higher density neighbourhoods. To address obesity-related inequities in Australia, there is a need for multifaceted interventions that support healthier energy-balance related behaviours amongst disadvantaged populations.