Lifestyle factors and non-communicable diseasesSpec 5.24
Lifestyle choices affect the risk of non-communicable diseases. Their effects are seen at three levels.
| Level | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Local | A community, town or region | Local access to affordable healthy food and sports facilities affects obesity rates |
| National | A whole country | The cost to a country's health service of treating cardiovascular disease; government campaigns |
| Global | Around the world | Obesity and malnutrition are both found around the world; the WHO monitors and responds to them |
Exercise and diet: obesity and malnutrition
Malnutrition is a diet that does not contain the right balance of nutrients. It can mean too little food or too much. Obesity is having too much body fat, often because energy taken in from food is greater than energy used in exercise. Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and other diseases influenced by nutrition. Regular exercise and a balanced diet reduce the risk.
Two measurements are used to assess body size:
A high BMI suggests a person is overweight or obese. A high waist : hip ratio means more fat is stored around the waist, which is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. You will be given the values to compare with.
Calculating BMI
A person has a mass of 72 kg and a height of 1.80 m. Calculate their BMI.
- height² = 1.80 × 1.80 = 3.24 m²
- BMI = mass ÷ height² = 72 ÷ 3.24
- BMI = 22.2
Answer: BMI = 22.2 (to 1 decimal place)
Calculating waist : hip ratio
A woman has a waist circumference of 81 cm and a hip circumference of 90 cm. Calculate her waist : hip ratio.
- waist : hip ratio = waist circumference ÷ hip circumference
- = 81 ÷ 90
- = 0.90
Answer: 0.90 (a ratio has no units, as long as both measurements are in the same unit)
Alcohol and liver disease
The liver breaks down alcohol. Drinking too much over a long time damages liver cells and can cause liver diseases such as a fatty liver, inflammation and scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure.
Smoking and cardiovascular disease
Chemicals in tobacco smoke damage the lining of arteries, which increases the build-up of fatty deposits and narrows the arteries. Nicotine also increases heart rate and blood pressure. Together this increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Smoking is also a risk factor for lung diseases and lung cancer.