Nutrition & Lifestyle
How well you eat, move, sleep, and avoid risky habits
What We Ask About
5 topics
- Diet
Definition
The overall pattern and quality of what you eat day to day.
Why it matters for a long, healthy life
Diet quality is one of the most modifiable factors shaping how long you live: small, sustained changes can add meaningful years.
The research
A long-term study of U.S. health professionals found that improving diet quality over time, regardless of where someone started, was linked to better health and a lower risk of premature death.
Source: Sotos-Prieto et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2017
- Physical Activity
Definition
How much moderate or vigorous movement you get in a typical week.
Why it matters for a long, healthy life
Regular physical activity is one of the most consistent, well-proven ways to support better health and add years to your life, and more is generally better, up to a point.
The research
A pooled analysis of over 650,000 people found that meeting recommended activity levels was associated with living an average of 4.5 years longer.
- Sleep
Definition
Both how long and how consistently you sleep each night.
Why it matters for a long, healthy life
Sleep that's too short, too long, or irregular is linked to poorer health and a higher risk of premature death: the body relies on consistent rest to repair and regulate itself.
The research
A dose-response meta-analysis found that both too little and too much sleep were linked to poorer heart health and a higher risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease, with the best outcomes around 7 hours a night.
Source: Kwok et al., Journal of the American Heart Association, 2018
- Smoking
Definition
Whether, and how much, you currently smoke cigarettes or other tobacco.
Why it matters for a long, healthy life
Smoking is one of the largest preventable causes of poor health and premature death, damaging nearly every organ system in the body over time.
The research
A national analysis of smoking hazards found that continuing smokers lose roughly a decade of life on average compared with never-smokers, while quitting, at any age, recovers much of that lost time.
- Alcohol & Substance Use
Definition
How much alcohol you drink, and whether you use other substances that can affect your health.
Why it matters for a long, healthy life
Heavy or disordered alcohol and substance use accelerates disease and injury risk across nearly every organ system, meaningfully shortening life expectancy.
The research
A large multigenerational registry study found that alcohol use disorder was linked to poorer health and a significantly shorter life expectancy at every stage of adulthood, from early adulthood through old age.
Why We Ask
The life you experience each day is shaped by the habits you build over time. Caring for your body gives you energy to stay active and take part in life. It helps you enjoy the people and activities that matter to you. Small choices today can help create a healthier, fuller future.
Understanding Your Score
Your Care Team Support
A dietitian or health coach can help build lasting habits around food, activity, sleep, or substance use. Ask your county resource specialist to connect you.
TYPES OF PROFESSIONALS WHO MAY HELP