Which of the following is a lifestyle factor that influences disease risk?

• A. Diet
• B. Blood type
• C. Eye color
• D. Height

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that modifiable behaviors, or lifestyle factors, can influence the chance of developing disease. Diet is a key lifestyle factor because what you eat affects body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and inflammation, all of which shape risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and other conditions. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins tends to lower risk, while heavy consumption of processed foods, saturated fats, and added sugars can increase it. In contrast, blood type, eye color, and height are largely determined by genetics and fixed traits; they don’t reflect daily choices that you can change to alter disease risk. So diet best fits the idea of a lifestyle factor influencing health outcomes.