The Relationship Between Housing Types and Metabolic and Weight Phenotypes: A Nationwide Survey

Compared to studies evaluating the effect of environmental factors on weight and health, relationships between housing types and health conditions are understudied. This study aimed to assess the relationship between housing types and metabolic and weight phenotypes using data from the 2014 to 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

A total of 9586 Korean adults (4128 men and 5458 women; mean age, 50.7 ± 16.5 years) were considered for this study. Four metabolic and weight phenotypes were created using presence/absence of metabolic syndrome and body mass index (<25 kg/m² for normal weight vs. ≥25 kg/m² for overweight).

Nonapartment residents were 1.23-fold (95% confidence interval: 1.07-1.42) more likely to have metabolically unhealthy and overweight phenotype compared to apartment residents, after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, residence area, health behaviors, and nutritional information awareness. In a subgroup analysis, nonapartment living was associated with higher odds for the metabolically unhealthy and overweight phenotype than living in an apartment in individuals with the following characteristics: age <60 years, education ≥ college, second-third quartile income level, married, living in urban area, alcohol <16 drinks/week, noncurrent smokers, and aware of nutritional information.

Housing types may be an indicator for increased risk of metabolic and weight phenotypes in Korean adults and used to select high risk individuals. Uncontrolled confounding factors related to housing types, including property assets and environmental attributes, may contribute to the findings.