Multiple factors affect an individual's health status. Health status may be determined by an individual's biological makeup. That is, someone may be genetically predisposed to particular illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, obesity, or diabetes.
An individual may also engage in behaviors that affect their health status. For example, smoking can increase risk for lung cancer and heart disease. A sedentary lifestyle and overeating can increase risk for obesity and diabetes.
Other factors that can affect an individual's health are called the social determinants of health. Social determinants of health include socioeconomic factors that affect someone's health. These factors may include job opportunities, availability of food, discrimination, living in poverty, access to transportation, availability of health services, safety, and quality of education.
The physical environment also may affect an individual's health. Physical factors affecting health may include housing areas, quality of housing, and neighborhoods. Access to and availability of transportation also affects health status. Living close to or being regularly exposed to toxic substances or other hazards can affect health status. Health status can even be affected by the quality of parks, recreational facilities, and level of sidewalk maintenance.
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