Which factor is a risk factor for high cholesterol?

• A. Diabetes
• B. Tobacco use
• C. Physically inactive
• D. Age

Answer: (C)

Physical activity directly shapes how your body handles fats. Regular exercise tends to raise HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and lower triglycerides, and it can modestly improve LDL levels. When you’re physically inactive, those favorable changes don’t occur, which often leads to a less favorable lipid profile—higher LDL and triglycerides and lower HDL—and can contribute to developing high cholesterol over time. Among common risk factors, inactivity is a strong, modifiable driver of cholesterol issues, making it the best answer here. It’s true that diabetes, tobacco use, and aging can also influence cholesterol, but inactivity specifically highlights how lifestyle changes can most readily impact lipid levels.