This means that any warning they give is in terms of probabilities. Such as, if you smoke, you have twenty-seven times the chance of getting lung cancer in your life as somebody who doesn't (real statistic). If you consume three teaspoons of sugar a day, you have, perhaps, you have twice the chance of becoming overweight and four times the chance of becoming obese (Those last two are not a real statistics. I just use them for examples).
They can't predict that you will come down with an ailment due your sweet tooth any more than they can tell you you're going to die in a traffic accident if you don't wear your seat belts.
They can tell you what's more likely to happen.
However, it's also true that health news is a bit of a racket, though some things are really settled issues. Sugar is terrible for you. Overindulgence makes you more likely to come down with some pretty awful chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease more likely in your lifetime. More likely does not mean you will.
If your physiology is able to tolerate a poor diet and smoking now, you're very fortunate. However, if you're body is resilient now, that doesn't mean it will continue to be. Your physiology changes greatly in your lifetime.
More likely, you will not be able to maintain your health as well as a person, of equal age, who doesn't have your habits.
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