Which of the following is a modifiable risk factor for chronic disease?

• A. Smoking
• B. Age
• C. Genetic predisposition
• D. Family history

Answer: (A)

Modifiable risk factors are those you can change through actions or interventions. Smoking fits this because a person can quit or avoid starting, which lowers exposure to tobacco toxins and reduces risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, and COPD.

Age, by contrast, is not something you can alter; risk for many chronic diseases tends to rise with advancing age, but you can’t change how old you are. Genetic predisposition refers to inherited differences in genes that affect susceptibility; while you can manage risk with screening and healthy behaviors, the genetic makeup itself isn’t modifiable. Family history indicates inherited patterns of risk that you can’t change.

So the best answer is smoking, as it is the risk factor among these that can be modified through behavior and treatment.