What are 6 risk factors?


Editorial team Published on

In health and medicine, risk factors are conditions or habits that increase your chance of developing a disease or injury. They are most commonly grouped into 5 or 6 major categories (often referenced in public health like the EUPATI Toolbox):

  • Behavioral: Actions and habits you choose, such as smoking, tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and drinking too much alcohol.
  • Physiological: Physical traits and internal body conditions, such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and excess body weight.
  • Demographic: Population characteristics like age, gender, and income level.
  • Environmental: Conditions around you, such as air pollution, poor sanitation, exposure to toxic chemicals, or unsafe working environments.
  • Genetic: Inherited traits and gene mutations passed down from your parents that make you more vulnerable to certain conditions.
  • Social / Economic (sometimes counted separately): Factors like social support networks, education access, and community safety that affect overall well-being.

(Note: Depending on the context—such as business management or workplace safety—"6 types of risk" might instead refer to operational, financial, strategic, compliance, reputational, and physical safety risks.)