Risk Factors for Non-Insulin- Dependent Diabetes

findings related to the epidemiology and natural history of the disease. Risk factors influence the risk of disease occurrence but, in most cases, are not the causal factors. For instance, prosperity and abundance of food do not directly cause obesity but may increase its incidence by making the causal exposure (food intake) more likely. A narrower definition of risk factor assumes that modification of the factor is possible and that such modification will change disease occurrence. In this sense, demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and ethnicity are not risk factors.