Physical Health: Benefits of Exercise and Consequences of Sedentary Lifestyle

OCR

GCSE

Candidates must distinguish between physical, emotional, and social benefits of physical activity, citing specific physiological adaptations such as cardiac hypertrophy, increased bone density, and improved body composition. Analysis must address the etiology of hypokinetic diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD), Type 2 diabetes, and obesity, arising from sedentary behaviour. Evaluation requires linking lifestyle choices, including caloric intake and activity levels, to long-term health outcomes and somatic indices.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Award marks for the accurate classification of benefits into the three mandatory domains: Physical (e.g., reduced risk of CHD, increased bone density), Emotional (e.g., stress relief, aesthetic appreciation), and Social (e.g., teamwork, new friendships).
Credit responses that explicitly link 'sedentary lifestyle' to specific health risks like hypertension, lethargy, and poor body composition, rather than generic assertions of 'poor health'.
For AO2 application, candidates must apply specific benefits to a given scenario (e.g., explaining how 'social mixing' specifically benefits an elderly individual joining a bowls club to combat loneliness).
In extended responses (AO3), award higher levels for analysing the cumulative impact of exercise on long-term health, such as the mechanism of weight-bearing exercise preventing osteoporosis.

Example Examiner Feedback

Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

"You have listed valid benefits, but you must categorize them correctly as Physical, Emotional, or Social to access full marks."
"Replace generic phrases like 'getting fit' with specific components of fitness or health outcomes, such as 'improved cardiovascular endurance' or 'reduced blood pressure'."
"Your explanation of sedentary lifestyle consequences needs to link the lack of activity to the physiological result, e.g., 'lack of weight-bearing activity leads to reduced bone density'."
"In the scenario question, you identified the benefit but did not apply it to the specific needs of the athlete mentioned; link the benefit to their performance context."

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Award marks for the accurate classification of benefits into the three mandatory domains: Physical (e.g., reduced risk of CHD, increased bone density), Emotional (e.g., stress relief, aesthetic appreciation), and Social (e.g., teamwork, new friendships).
Credit responses that explicitly link 'sedentary lifestyle' to specific health risks like hypertension, lethargy, and poor body composition, rather than generic assertions of 'poor health'.
For AO2 application, candidates must apply specific benefits to a given scenario (e.g., explaining how 'social mixing' specifically benefits an elderly individual joining a bowls club to combat loneliness).
In extended responses (AO3), award higher levels for analysing the cumulative impact of exercise on long-term health, such as the mechanism of weight-bearing exercise preventing osteoporosis.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡When asked for 'consequences of a sedentary lifestyle', prioritize specific medical conditions (CHD, Type 2 Diabetes) over general symptoms to secure AO1 marks.
💡In 6-mark extended responses, structure answers to cover all three categories (Physical, Emotional, Social) to demonstrate breadth of knowledge and access Level 3 bands.
💡Ensure the 'impact' is clearly stated for AO3; do not just identify a benefit, explain the mechanism (e.g., 'lower resting heart rate indicates cardiac hypertrophy, improving endurance').

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Misclassification of benefits, commonly confusing 'increased confidence' (Emotional) with 'making friends' (Social) or 'teamwork' (Social).
Use of non-technical language; stating 'stronger bones' instead of 'increased bone density' or 'prevents osteoporosis'.
Failing to link the consequence to the cause in 'Explain' questions; stating 'you get fat' without referencing 'caloric surplus' or 'lack of energy expenditure'.

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Holistic Health Dimensions (Physical, Mental, Social)

Hypokinetic Disease Etiology

Sedentary Lifestyle Consequences

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Identify

Describe

Explain

Analyse

Evaluate

Justify

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