I was fascinated to read about new research which came out last month, suggesting that the environment an individual lives in, is about 10 times more influential than genetics in determining why some people face a higher risk of early death.

The study analysed data from nearly 500,000 participants in the UK’s BioBank database and found that the range of environmental factors we encounter throughout life, such as living conditions and smoking habits — are more crucial in shaping our health, how we age, and the development of chronic diseases.

164 environmental factors were studied in relation to the increased risk of 22 diseases that make up most of the major causes of death. These were narrowed down further and the study identified 25 key exposures associated with biological ageing. But crucially, 23 of these exposures are modifiable, meaning they could be adjusted to reduce health risks as we age.

Environment and lifestyle accounted for 17% of people’s disease-related risk of dying, compared to just 2% for genetics. Of the various environmental exposures, smoking was predictably the most dangerous environmental factor (linked to 21 diseases) and a lack of physical activity was linked to 17 diseases.

Now more than ever, we are learning the importance of Lifestyle Medicine. For too long the rhetoric over genetics has been that it predetermines our health – taking health out of the hands of the individuals and placing it in the hands of fate. Finally, science is showing us that susceptibility to disease is not inexorable, and we do have some control over preventing bad health.

Our lifestyle choices are one of the most important things we can do for our longevity – be it the food we eat, how much we move, the air we breath, or how we control our stress. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we change the prejudices of conventional medicine about the influence of lifestyle modifications and behaviour change, prevention over drugs and surgeries as the only option and perhaps most important of all, educating the public about the importance of their lifestyle choices.