What is the explanatory variable?

Researchers wanted to determine if there was an association between daily cantaloupe consumption and the occurrence of high cholesterol. The researchers looked at 93,345 women and asked them to report their cantaloupe-eating habits. The researchers also determined which of the women had high cholesterol. After their analysis, the researchers concluded that consumption of two or more servings of cantaloupe per day was associated with a reduction in high cholesterol. Complete parts (a) through (c) below. ... The response variable is whether the woman has high cholesterol or not. The respor riable is qualitative