Which of the following factors can affect an individual's nutritional needs?

Nutritional needs are influenced by a combination of various factors that interact with each other to affect an individual's overall dietary requirements. Age and gender are fundamental factors that play a significant role in determining nutritional needs. For instance, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults have different needs due to growth and developmental changes. Gender also affects nutritional needs, as men and women may require different amounts of certain nutrients due to differences in body composition and reproductive health.

In addition to age and gender, activity level significantly influences nutritional needs. Individuals who engage in regular physical activity typically require more calories and nutrients to support their energy expenditure and recovery needs compared to those with a sedentary lifestyle.

Health status is another critical factor, as certain medical conditions, disabilities, or diseases can alter nutrient absorption, metabolism, and overall dietary needs. For example, someone with diabetes may need to manage carbohydrate intake more carefully, while individuals with digestive disorders may require specific dietary adjustments.

By incorporating all these factors—age, gender, activity level, and health status—this option provides a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic nature of nutritional needs, making it the most accurate choice. Other options are narrower in scope and fail to capture the multifactorial nature of nutrition.