08/08/2025
A well-known and widely cited study that demonstrates lifestyle having a greater influence than genetics or family history on the development of chronic disease is:
Study Title:
“Healthy lifestyle and the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes”
Published in:
BMJ (British Medical Journal), 2019
By Li Y, Pan A, Wang DD, et al.
Study Summary:
This study used data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which followed over 111,000 men and women in the U.S. for more than 20 years.
Key Lifestyle Factors Studied:
1. Not smoking
2. Maintaining a healthy weight (BMI 18.5–24.9)
3. Regular physical activity (≥30 minutes/day)
4. Healthy diet
5. Moderate alcohol intake
Major Findings:
Individuals who followed all 5 healthy lifestyle habits had:
82% lower risk of cardiovascular disease
65% lower risk of cancer
92% lower risk of type 2 diabetes
Up to 14 years longer life expectancy compared to those with unhealthy lifestyles.
These effects were significant regardless of family history or genetic risk.
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Additional Supportive Study:
Study:
“Genetic Risk, Adherence to a Healthy Lifestyle, and Coronary Disease”
Published in New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), 2016
By Khera AV et al.
Key Insight:
Even among people with high genetic risk for coronary artery disease, a healthy lifestyle cut their risk in half compared to those with unhealthy habits.
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✅ Conclusion:
These studies powerfully show that lifestyle choices — what you eat, how active you are, and whether you smoke — can outweigh genetic risk when it comes to preventing major diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
