Research indicates that while genetics do influence immunity, lifestyle and environmental factors play a larger and more dynamic role in shaping immune responses.
Research suggests immunity is mostly determined by lifestyle and environmental factors, not genes

Environmental factors, lifestyle choices have greater impact on health than genes, study finds - ABC News
Source: abcnews.go.com
Key Evidence
A study published in Nature Communications found that environmental factors have a stronger influence than genetics on many immune cell parameters.
nature.comnature.comInnate and adaptive immune traits are differentially affected by genetic and...
Stanford research highlights that environment plays a starring role in human immune variation over genes.
med.stanford.edumed.stanford.eduEnvironment, not genes, plays starring role in human immune variation, study...
ABC News reports on a study concluding lifestyle and environmental factors impact health more than genetics.
abcnews.go.comabcnews.go.comEnvironmental factors, lifestyle choices have greater impact on health than...
What the Evidence Shows
Scientific studies consistently show that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the human immune system's function. However, recent research emphasizes that environmental exposures, lifestyle choices, and living conditions often have a greater impact on immune variation than genetics alone. For example, studies analyzing twins and large cohorts reveal that innate and adaptive immune traits are differentially influenced, with environmental factors frequently exerting stronger effects.
Additionally, early life exposures and ongoing environmental interactions modulate immune memory and responsiveness. Although genes provide the foundational blueprint for immune function, the environment and lifestyle can significantly alter immune outcomes, sometimes overriding genetic predispositions.
Therefore, the claim that immunity is mostly determined by lifestyle and environmental factors rather than genes aligns well with current scientific understanding, though it is important to acknowledge the complex interplay between both influences.