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Health & Nutrition: Human Nutrition

What is a "risk factor"?

A risk factor is a characteristic that increases the chance that you will develop a particular health problem; it does not necessarily cause the problem. Generally, the more risk factors you have, the greater the likelihood you will develop the health problems.

It makes good sense to control risk factors you can control maintaining healthy weight, don't smoke, exercise regularly, use alcohol moderately or not al all, and choose a healthy diet. Some risk factors such as age, sex, and heredity cannot be controlled.