Which factor has the largest effect on life expectancy?

Which factor has the largest effect on life expectancy?

• A. Diet
• B. Exercise
• C. Access to healthcare
• D. Socio-economic status

Answer: (D)

Socio-economic status has the largest effect on life expectancy because it shapes a broad set of health-related conditions and opportunities that accumulate over a lifetime. Higher SES typically brings safer housing, less chronic stress, better education, more options for healthy foods, and the means to engage in preventive care and timely medical treatment. These advantages reduce exposure to risk factors and enhance the ability to prevent and manage diseases, which translates into longer life. Diet and exercise matter, but their impact is strongly influenced by the resources and environments SES provides—access to affordable, nutritious food, safe spaces to be active, and the time and energy to prioritize health. Access to healthcare is important, yet SES also affects whether care is affordable, culturally acceptable, and effectively used. Because SES affects many core pathways to health, it most strongly predicts differences in how long people live.

Socio-economic status has the largest effect on life expectancy because it shapes a broad set of health-related conditions and opportunities that accumulate over a lifetime. Higher SES typically brings safer housing, less chronic stress, better education, more options for healthy foods, and the means to engage in preventive care and timely medical treatment. These advantages reduce exposure to risk factors and enhance the ability to prevent and manage diseases, which translates into longer life. Diet and exercise matter, but their impact is strongly influenced by the resources and environments SES provides—access to affordable, nutritious food, safe spaces to be active, and the time and energy to prioritize health. Access to healthcare is important, yet SES also affects whether care is affordable, culturally acceptable, and effectively used. Because SES affects many core pathways to health, it most strongly predicts differences in how long people live.