Health Factors Simulation

Genetic vulnerability factor
Environmental vulnerability factor
Protective factor

Instructions

This game uses a Health Jar to represent your overall well-being. The jar starts empty and can hold a total of 6 factors.

  1. Spin the wheel to add genetic factors to the jar.
  2. Spin again to add environmental factors.
  3. Continue spinning to keep adding genetic and environmental factors until the jar reaches or exceeds its capacity.

Once full, you'll see that protective factors displayed.

  1. Drag the protective factors into the jar one at a time. These reduce the impact of environmental factors and increases the capacity of the jar.
  2. The game ends when the maximum capacity of the jar exceeds the number of genetic and environmental factors.
  3. Click the Reset button to play again.

Watch how each factor affects the jar—and your health—as you play.



Ready to start? Click the button below to start the activity!


                        
                    

                

                
                

                    

                    

                        
                    

                
 
                

                
                

                    
                    

                        

                            
Genetic Factors

                            
Genetic factors refer to the inherited traits and characteristics passed down from parents to offspring through genes. These factors can influence individuals physical traits, overall health and wellbeing. (Otto, 2001)                            

                            

                        

                    


                    
                    

                        

                            
Environmental Factors

                            
Environmental factors refer to exposures to substances (such as pesticides or industrial waste) where we live or work, behaviours that can increase an individual’s risk of disease or stressful situations." (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2025)

                        

                    


                    
                    

                        

                            
Increasing Vulnerability Factors

                        

                    


                    
                    

                        

                            
Restore Balance with Protective Factors

                        

                    


                    
                    
Drag and drop protective factors into the jar to help protect or improve your health

                    


                    
                    
                


                
                

                    
Stage 1

                    
The jar is currently empty. Spin the wheel to see how genetic and environmental factors can influence your health.

                


                

                
                

                   
                    
                    

                    
                    

                        
Here are all the possible factors you could have received during the activity. Some may have appeared in your game while others did not, but each one has an impact on health and well-being.

                    

                    

                    

                    

                


                

                
                


                
                
                
                

            
            
            


            
            

                
                    
Health Jar


                    
                    

                        

                            
                            

                                Health Jar
                                
0/10 + 0 protective

                            

                            
                            
                            

                        

                        

                            
Factors in the jar: