7.4 Diet, Exercise And Disease

Question 1

What health problems can obesity lead to

Answer 1

-type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar levels, which are hard to control)
- high blood pressure
- heart disease

Question 2

Why is exercise beneficial

Answer 2

• people who exercise are much fitter
• they have bigger muscles
• they have fitter hearts and bigger lungs
• there are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease and many other health problems such as type 2 diabetes

Question 3

What causal mechanisms describe how exercise keeps you healthy?

Answer 3

• you will have more muscle tissue, increasing your metabolic rate, so you are less likely to be overweight
• this reduces the risk of developing arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure
• heart will be fitter and you will have better blood supply
• regular exercise lowers blood cholesterol levels and helps balance the different types of blood cholesterol
• this reduces the risk of fatty deposits building up in coronary arteries, lowering your risk of heart disease and other health problems

Question 4

What happens in type 2 diabetes

Answer 4

• your body doesn’t make enough insulin to control your blood sugar levels or your cells stop responding to insulin
• this can lead to problems with circulation, kidney function and eyesight, which may eventually lead to death

Question 5

What are some risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes

Answer 5

• risk increases with age
• some people have a genetic tendency to get it
• being overweight or obese and not doing much exercise are risk factors at any age

Question 6

What happens if you take in more energy than you need

Answer 6

the excess is stored as fat