Physical Health and Wellbeing

Understanding the relationship between physical activity and health is a fundamental part of AQA GCSE PE Paper 2. This lesson focuses on the physical health benefits of exercise — the five key benefits you must know for the exam, how they work, and why they matter. Physical health is one of three aspects of wellbeing (alongside emotional and social), and a strong understanding of it underpins much of the health, fitness and wellbeing topic.

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Defining Key Terms

Before exploring the benefits, you need to understand the key terms that underpin this topic:

Term	Definition
Health	A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO definition)
Fitness	The ability to meet the demands of the environment
Physical wellbeing	The state of the body and its systems functioning effectively
Exercise	A form of physical activity done to maintain or improve health and/or fitness
Physical activity	Any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure

Exam Tip: The WHO definition of health is very commonly tested. Learn it word for word — especially the phrase "not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Many students lose marks by defining health as simply "not being ill."

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The Relationship Between Health and Fitness

Health and fitness are related but not the same thing:

• You can be fit but not healthy — e.g. a marathon runner who has the flu. They have high cardiovascular fitness but are currently unwell.
• You can be healthy but not fit — e.g. a person who is free from disease and feels well but cannot run for a bus without becoming breathless.

Comparison	Health	Fitness
Definition	Complete physical, mental and social wellbeing	Ability to meet the demands of the environment
Measured by	Medical assessments, self-reported wellbeing	Fitness tests (e.g. bleep test, Cooper run)
Affected by	Disease, lifestyle, genetics, environment	Training, genetics, diet, rest
Key point	A person can be healthy without being fit	A person can be fit without being healthy

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Five Physical Health Benefits of Exercise

1. Improved Heart Function

Regular exercise strengthens the heart muscle, making it a more efficient pump. This is one of the most important health benefits of physical activity.

Effect of Regular Exercise on the Heart	Detail
Increased stroke volume	The heart pumps more blood per beat, so it works more efficiently
Lower resting heart rate	A stronger heart needs fewer beats to pump the same amount of blood
Lower blood pressure	Reduced resistance in blood vessels decreases the strain on the heart
Reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD)	Exercise helps prevent the build-up of fatty deposits in coronary arteries
Improved cardiac output during exercise	The heart can deliver more oxygenated blood to working muscles

An average resting heart rate is 60–100 bpm, but trained athletes may have a resting heart rate as low as 40–50 bpm because their heart is so efficient.

2. Improved Body System Efficiency

Exercise does not just benefit the heart — it improves the efficiency of multiple body systems:

Body System	How Exercise Improves It
Cardiovascular	Stronger heart, better blood flow, more capillaries supplying muscles
Respiratory	Increased lung capacity, more efficient gas exchange, stronger diaphragm and intercostal muscles
Muscular	Increased muscular strength, endurance and flexibility; better muscle tone
Skeletal	Increased bone density (weight-bearing exercise), reduced risk of osteoporosis

When all systems work more efficiently, the body can handle the demands of daily life and exercise with less effort and fatigue.

3. Reduces the Risk of Illness and Disease

Regular physical activity significantly reduces the risk of a range of serious health conditions:

Condition	How Exercise Reduces the Risk
Coronary heart disease	Reduces blood pressure and cholesterol; strengthens the heart
Type 2 diabetes	Improves insulin sensitivity; helps maintain a healthy body weight
Obesity	Burns calories; increases metabolic rate; helps maintain energy balance
Stroke	Reduces blood pressure and improves blood vessel health
Some cancers	Research links regular activity to reduced risk of bowel and breast cancer
Osteoporosis	Weight-bearing exercise increases bone density
Depression	Releases serotonin and endorphins; provides routine and social interaction

Exam Tip: When explaining how exercise reduces disease risk, always include the mechanism. Do not just say "exercise reduces heart disease." Say "exercise reduces blood pressure and cholesterol, which prevents fatty deposits building up in coronary arteries, reducing the risk of coronary heart disease."

4. Ability to Carry Out Everyday Tasks

A physically active person is better equipped to handle the demands of everyday life:

• Climbing stairs without becoming breathless
• Carrying shopping without muscle fatigue
• Playing with children without tiring quickly
• Maintaining independence in old age (e.g. being able to get out of a chair, walk to the shops, do housework)

This benefit is particularly important for older adults, for whom maintaining physical function is directly linked to quality of life and independence.

Fitness Component	Everyday Task It Helps With
Cardiovascular endurance	Walking long distances, climbing stairs
Muscular strength	Lifting heavy objects, carrying shopping bags
Muscular endurance	Sustained activities like gardening, housework
Flexibility	Bending, reaching, tying shoelaces
Body composition	Maintaining a healthy weight makes all tasks easier

5. Avoiding Obesity

Exercise plays a crucial role in preventing and managing obesity by helping to maintain a healthy energy balance:

• Energy balance = the relationship between energy consumed (food and drink) and energy expended (physical activity and bodily functions).
• If energy intake exceeds energy expenditure, the excess is stored as fat, leading to weight gain.
• If energy expenditure exceeds energy intake, the body uses stored fat for energy, leading to weight loss.
• Regular exercise increases energy expenditure, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight.

Concept	Definition
Energy balance	Energy in (food) = Energy out (activity + BMR)
Positive energy balance	Energy in > Energy out → weight gain
Negative energy balance	Energy in < Energy out → weight loss
BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)	The amount of energy the body uses at rest to maintain basic functions

graph LR
    A[Energy In: Food & Drink] --> B{Energy Balance}
    C[Energy Out: Exercise + BMR] --> B
    B -->|Energy In = Energy Out| D[Weight Maintained]
    B -->|Energy In > Energy Out| E[Weight Gain]
    B -->|Energy In < Energy Out| F[Weight Loss]
    style D fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#2e7d32
    style E fill:#ffcdd2,stroke:#c62828
    style F fill:#fff9c4,stroke:#f9a825

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Summary of the Five Benefits

Benefit	Key Point
1. Improved heart function	Stronger heart, lower resting HR, reduced CHD risk
2. Body system efficiency	CV, respiratory, muscular and skeletal systems all work better
3. Reduces illness/disease risk	Lower risk of CHD, diabetes, obesity, stroke, some cancers
4. Everyday task ability	Climb stairs, carry shopping, maintain independence
5. Avoiding obesity	Exercise increases energy expenditure, maintaining energy balance

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Common Exam Mistakes

1. Confusing health and fitness. They are related but different. Health is about overall wellbeing; fitness is about meeting physical demands.
2. Vague answers about disease prevention. Do not just say "exercise prevents disease." Specify which diseases and how exercise reduces the risk.
3. Forgetting the WHO definition of health. Learn it precisely — "a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
4. Not mentioning energy balance when discussing obesity. The concept of energy in vs energy out is central to this topic.

Exam Tip: When the exam asks for the physical health benefits of exercise, structure your answer around all five benefits listed above. Give a brief explanation and, where possible, link to a specific body system or health condition. This demonstrates thorough knowledge and earns full marks.