Which of the following is a lifestyle risk factor?

• A. Overweight
• B. Cancer
• C. Heart disease
• D. Kidney disease

Answer: (A)

Being overweight is a lifestyle risk factor because it reflects choices about daily living—diet, activity level, and energy balance—that can be changed to lower disease risk. A lifestyle risk factor is something tied to behavior and broader living patterns that increases the chance of illness and can be modified through healthier habits. Overweight results from these patterns and, in turn, raises the risk for conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Cancer, heart disease, and kidney disease are diseases themselves, not lifestyle factors. They’re outcomes that can develop from a variety of causes, including genetics and environmental factors, and while lifestyle can influence their risk, the conditions themselves aren’t the lifestyle factor in question.