AQA · GCSE · Biology

    Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018

    The effects of diet, smoking and exercise on cardiovascular disease. •…

    Full specification wording

    The effect of lifestyle on some non-communicable diseases: The effects of diet, smoking and exercise on cardiovascular disease. • Obesity as a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. • The effect of alcohol on the liver and brain function. • The effect of smoking on lung disease and lung cancer. • The effects of smoking and alcohol on unborn babies. • Carcinogens, including ionising radiation, as risk factors in cancer.

    This statement links risk factors to non-communicable diseases.

    Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 5 of 9
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    This statement links risk factors to non-communicable diseases. A diet high in saturated fat raises blood cholesterol, leading to fatty deposits in arteries and cardiovascular disease; smoking damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure; regular exercise lowers cardiovascular disease risk. Obesity increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes because body cells become less responsive to insulin. Alcohol damages liver cells, causing cirrhosis, and impairs brain function. Smoking damages lung tissue, causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and contains carcinogens that cause lung cancer. Chemicals in tobacco smoke (such as carbon monoxide) and alcohol can harm an unborn baby by crossing the placenta. Carcinogens, including ionising radiation, can mutate DNA and cause cancer.

    What earns the marks

    • Link a diet high in saturated fat to raised cholesterol, artery narrowing and cardiovascular disease.
    • Explain that smoking damages blood vessels and increases blood pressure, contributing to cardiovascular disease.
    • Explain that obesity makes body cells less responsive to insulin, increasing Type 2 diabetes risk.
    • Describe how alcohol damages liver cells and impairs brain function.
    • Describe how smoking damages lung tissue and how carcinogens in smoke cause lung cancer.
    • Explain that chemicals in tobacco smoke (such as carbon monoxide) and alcohol can cross the placenta and harm an unborn baby.
    • State that carcinogens, including ionising radiation, can mutate DNA and cause cancer.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Saying that obesity directly causes Type 2 diabetes.

      Put it right by explaining that it increases the risk by reducing insulin sensitivity.

    • Stating that 'smoking' crosses the placenta.

      Put it right by specifying that chemicals in tobacco smoke, such as carbon monoxide, cross the placenta.

    • Stating that alcohol only affects the liver.

      Put it right by including its effects on brain function and on unborn babies.

    Exam tips

    • For each factor, name the disease and describe the biological effect in one clear sentence.
    • Use comparative language such as 'increases the risk of' rather than 'causes'.
    • When discussing unborn babies, mention that specific chemicals cross the placenta and can affect development.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the The effect of lifestyle on some non-communicable diseases: The effects of diet, smoking and exercise on cardiovascular disease. • Obesity as a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. • The effect of alcohol on the liver and brain function. • The effect of smoking on lung disease and lung cancer. • The effects of smoking and alcohol on unborn babies. • Carcinogens, including ionising radiation, as risk factors in cancer. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Which of the following lifestyle factors is a recognised risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes?

    Listen

    This statement links risk factors to non-communicable diseases. A diet high in saturated fat raises blood cholesterol, leading to fatty deposits in arteries and cardiovascular disease; smoking damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure; regular exercise lowers cardiovascular disease risk. Obesity increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes because body cells become less responsive to insulin. Alcohol damages liver cells, causing cirrhosis, and impairs brain function. Smoking damages lung tissue, causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and contains carcinogens that cause lung cancer. Chemicals in tobacco smoke (such as carbon monoxide) and alcohol can harm an unborn baby by crossing the placenta. Carcinogens, including ionising radiation, can mutate DNA and cause cancer. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Link a diet high in saturated fat to raised cholesterol, artery narrowing and cardiovascular disease. Explain that smoking damages blood vessels and increases blood pressure, contributing to cardiovascular disease. Explain that obesity makes body cells less responsive to insulin, increasing Type 2 diabetes risk. Describe how alcohol damages liver cells and impairs brain function. A common slip: Saying that obesity directly causes Type 2 diabetes. Instead, explaining that it increases the risk by reducing insulin sensitivity. Exam tip: For each factor, name the disease and describe the biological effect in one clear sentence.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. On the left, a diet high in saturated fat leads to raised blood cholesterol, which leads to fatty deposits in arteries, which leads to cardiovascular disease. Separately, smoking leads to damaged blood vessels, which leads to raised blood pressure, which also leads to cardiovascular disease. Regular exercise leads to a lowered cardiovascular disease risk. On the right, obesity leads to body cells becoming less responsive to insulin, which leads to Type 2 diabetes risk.
    Shows how diet, smoking and exercise affect cardiovascular disease risk, and how obesity increases Type 2 diabetes risk.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Cardiovascular health

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Metabolic disease and obesity

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Organ damage and cancer

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Maternal and fetal health

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Cardiovascular health
    A diet high in saturated fat raises blood cholesterol, leading to fatty deposits in arteries and cardiovascular disease, while smoking damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure and regular exercise lowers cardiovascular disease risk.
    Metabolic disease and obesity
    Obesity increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes because body cells become less responsive to insulin.
    Organ damage and cancer
    Alcohol damages liver cells, causing cirrhosis, and impairs brain function, while smoking damages lung tissue, causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and contains carcinogens that cause lung cancer.
    Maternal and fetal health
    Chemicals in tobacco smoke, such as carbon monoxide, and alcohol can harm an unborn baby by crossing the placenta.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. On the left, a diet high in saturated fat leads to raised blood cholesterol, which leads to fatty deposits in arteries, which leads to cardiovascular disease. Separately, smoking leads to damaged blood vessels, which leads to raised blood pressure, which also leads to cardiovascular disease. Regular exercise leads to a lowered cardiovascular disease risk. On the right, obesity leads to body cells becoming less responsive to insulin, which leads to Type 2 diabetes risk.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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