It’s my genes. How many times have you heard someone say those words in relation to an illness or physical complaint? How many times have you said it? From being overweight to chronic diseases, people tend to believe that these health issues, in fact many aspects of their health, are inherited and beyond their control. Well, there’s yet another study that proves that thinking is wrong. It says that while genetics undeniably plays a role in determining our lifespan, it’s a very small role. The science is telling us that how we live outweighs the genetic card’s we’ve been dealt.
The Study
A 2025 study out of the UK and published in Nature Magazine looked at data gathered by the UK Biobank over three decades from over 500,000 people. The data included genetic information, medical records, imaging, and information about lifestyle. Not a small brush stroke.
In total, 164 environmental factors and the participants’ genetic markers for disease were assessed. The environmental facts included lifestyle, social, and early life factors. Lifestyle encompassed things such as diet, smoking and physical activities. Social factors included living conditions, household income, and employment status, among other things. Early life factors included things such as body weight in childhood.
Utilizing this information, the researchers then looked for associations between genetics and 22 major “age-related” diseases, including coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes.
The Findings
Knowing all this, what do you think they found? Without question, environment won. Environmental facts collectively resulted in 17% of the differences in lifespan. Genetic factors only resulted in less than 2%. The bottom line? Your lifestyle has a much greater impact on your health and longevity than your genes.
Specifically, they identified key lifestyle factors that had a key impact on longevity:
- What we eat. Healthy dies are rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. If you limit processed foods and sugars, you’re eating for disease-free aging.
- Move. Consistent exercise has a huge impact on healthy longevity.
- Just say no to bad habits. By now we all know that things like smoking at all and drinking too much are not good for us.
- Stay social. This study confirms what the Harvard Study of Adult Longevity told us. Relationships make us happy, and happiness matters when it comes to healthy longevity.
Let’s Be Clear
Genetics are real, however they aren’t definitive. You might have a strong history of cancer or heart disease in your family. But that doesn’t mean it’s predestined that you will get cancer. That “genetic history” might actually be related to “inherited” family lifestyle choices. It’s likely. And if so, you can dictate your own healthy longevity by making the necessary changes to your lifestyle. In fact, a study published in the British Medical Journal indicated that a healthy lifestyle might counteract as much as 60% of the impact of “life-shortening” genes. Looking at this another way, the same review of the data indicated that you can blame your genes all you want, but it’s unhealthy lifestyles, the choices we make, that create a 78% heightened risk of dying early.
Your Good Choices
So, these studies are telling us that building a lifestyle around good nutrition, regular physical activity, prioritizing mental and emotional well-being, and avoiding bad habits are key. That sounds like living at 100% for 100 years, or your ideal 100 Year LifestyleⓇ!
If you want to make your best choice for healthy longevity, find a 100 Year LifestyleⓇ provider near you to help you on your journey.
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