Physical inactivity can increase the odds of having a stroke by which range?

• A. 5-10%
• B. 20-30%
• C. 40-50%
• D. 0-5%

Answer: (B)

Physical inactivity is a modifiable factor that modestly raises stroke odds by influencing several risk pathways. When people don’t get enough activity, blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and body weight tend to worsen, and these changes contribute to stroke risk over time. Across many studies, the combined data show that being inactive is associated with about a one-quarter to one-third higher odds of having a stroke compared with meeting recommended activity levels. This 20-30% range reflects the typical magnitude seen in large analyses and aligns with how lifestyle factors collectively influence vascular health.

Ranges like 0-5% would imply virtually no effect, which doesn’t match the observed associations. A 5-10% or even a 40-50% increase would either understate or overstate the common estimate compared with what large studies usually report. Therefore, the 20-30% range best fits the evidence for how inactivity impacts stroke odds.