When lifting an object, which factor primarily influences the effort needed?

The factor that primarily influences the effort needed to lift an object is the weight of the object. The weight directly impacts how much force is required to lift it against the force of gravity. When you lift an object, you must exert a force equal to or greater than its weight in order to move it upward.

While other factors, such as the distance from the fulcrum (which relates to levers and mechanical advantage) and height may influence the ease or technique of lifting, they do not change the fundamental requirement of overcoming the object's weight. The speed of lifting is more about how quickly or slowly an object is raised rather than the actual effort necessary to lift it, leaving the weight as the primary determiner of the effort involved.