Housing, health and BMI in Australia

Studies of housing related health tend to use self-assessed health status as their indicator of health. In this paper we operationalise body mass index to explore the association between housing tenure and health. This research is based upon analysis of data from the Australian Survey of Social Attitudes (AuSSA), a large national sample of Australian ad:Ults aged 1 B and above (Evans, 201 2). This Is a unique data source as it not only allows us to examine the self-assessed indicator of health and body mass index, but also provides access to important sociodemographic data.

The national survey shows higher levels of obesity among public housing tenants and home buyers compared to home owners. These results are lo an extent due lo higher instances of illness and disability among public housing tenants, and are also associated with known health risk factors. Yet differences in body mass index between tenures persist after controlling for a range of risk factors and sociodemographic indicators, suggesting the presence of cultural differences and different consumption patterns. Further investigation is required to establish the nature and extent that patterned health inequalities and associated risk factors are linked to housing tenure.