Which of the following is not listed as an example of social determinants of health?

• A. Zip code
• B. Education
• C. Diet
• D. Race

Answer: (C)

Social determinants of health are the upstream conditions that shape health outcomes, rooted in where people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and in how money, power, and resources are distributed. Zip code reflects the neighborhood and environmental context a person experiences; education affects health literacy, opportunities, and pathways in life; race is often discussed because structural inequities and discrimination influence access and outcomes. Diet, however, is a health behavior or lifestyle choice—something individuals do that affects health, rather than a social condition or structural factor. While diet is shaped by social determinants, it itself isn’t categorized as a social determinant. So diet is the best answer because it represents a behavior rather than a social condition.