Lifestyle and Environment Impact Health More Than Genetics

1 min

An investigation led by researchers from Oxford Population Health in the United Kingdom suggests that environmental factors, including lifestyle choices and living conditions, have a significantly greater influence on health and premature death than genetic predispositions. The research used data from nearly half a million participants in the UK Biobank to assess the impact of 164 environmental factors and genetic risk scores for 22 major diseases.

The researchers found that environmental factors — most of which are modifiable — accounted for 17 percent of the variation in risk of premature death, compared to less than 2 percent explained by genetic factors. Of the 25 independent environmental factors identified, smoking, socioeconomic status, physical activity, and living conditions were found to have the most substantial impact on biological aging and mortality. Smoking was linked to 21 diseases, while socioeconomic factors such as household income, homeownership, and employment status were associated with 19 diseases. Physical activity level was linked to 17 diseases.

In addition, early life exposures — such as body weight at age 10 and maternal smoking around birth — were shown to influence aging and risk of premature death decades later, highlighting the long-term impact of environmental factors on health. The research emphasizes the combined effect of multiple exposures throughout life as a major contributor to premature death.