Behavioural and biomedical risk factors of ageing

There may be some debate about which risk factors are the most critical, however my research identified 10 behavioural risk factors and 10 biomedical risk factors that strongly influence how we age.

As indicated previously, our daily behaviour determines how exposed we are to behavioural risk factors, which in turn determines our exposure to biomedical risk factors. While this may seem obvious to some, others may find it more difficult to comprehend.

If it were easy to understand, why is such a high proportion of our population inactive, consuming unhealthy diets, and experiencing the downstream biomedical problems of overweight and obesity?

Behavioural risk factors

Behavioural risk factors sit at the beginning of the ageing pathway. They are the daily habits and lifestyle choices that shape how our bodies function over time.

Through interviews with health professionals, the most commonly identified behavioural risk factors were clear.

The 10 most identified behavioural risk factors

The most significant behavioural risk factor identified was a lack of exercise. Almost all health professionals interviewed identified inactivity as a critical problem in our society.

The second most frequently identified risk factor was an unhealthy diet, followed closely by sleep deficit, which research shows significantly reduces a person’s ability to function.

These were followed by heavy alcohol consumption and smoking.

It is also concerning that vaping is being promoted as a substitute for smoking, despite growing evidence that the health consequences may be similar.

*Behavioural Risk Factors – Interview Responses with Health Professionals*

A nation becoming less active

Australians become less active as they age, with a particularly high proportion of people aged 55-64 years classified as physically inactive.

As we have seen previously, when our bodies become inactive, we leave the door open to many diseases and cancers that thrive on a body in decline.

Although the data below is drawn from earlier ABS statistics, the situation has worsened rather than improved in more recent census data.

*Proportion of Physically Inactive Persons (Aged 55+ Years)*

Biomedical risk factors

Biomedical risk factors are the downstream effects of long-term behavioural risk factors. They are measurable indicators of declining health.

One of the most critical biomedical risk factors identified through my research is overweight and obesity.

Approximately two third, or 66%, of the Australian population is overweight or obese. These figures are even more alarming when we examine people aged over 55.

ABS data shows that up to 80% of older males are overweight or obese.

Biomedical risk factors in depth

When behavioural risk factors such as inactivity, poor diet and sleep deficit persist over time, they lead directly to biomedical outcomes including:

Increased body weight
Reduced metabolic efficiency
Elevated cardiovascular risk
Increased vulnerability to disease

These conditions significantly increase the likelihood of falling below the disability threshold later in life.

The link between behaviour and biology

Behavioural and biomedical risk factors are not separate issues. They are directly connected.

As physical activity declines and diets deteriorate, the body becomes less resilient. Immune response weakens, metabolic function slows, and susceptibility to disease increases.

This relationship explains why such a large proportion of Australians are experiencing preventable health decline as they age.

Final observations

The key message from this research is clear: behaviour drives biology.

The risk factors that shape how we age are largely influenced by lifestyle choices made over many years. While genetics play a role, they do not determine destiny.

By addressing behavioural risk factors early and consistently, it is possible to reduce biomedical risk, improve quality of life, and significantly influence how successfully we age.