sedentary lifestyle and obesity

Answer: A sedentary lifestyle is a way of living that involves little or no physical activity, characterised by prolonged sitting or inactivity. Three health consequences: (1) Obesity - low energy expenditure means excess calories are stored as fat, leading to weight gain and BMI over 30. (2) Coronary heart disease - lack of exercise weakens the heart, contributes to high cholesterol and blood pressure, and allows fatty deposits to build up in coronary arteries. (3) Osteoporosis - without weight-bearing exercise, bones do not receive the mechanical stress needed to maintain density, becoming weak and brittle with increased fracture risk.

Answer: A sedentary lifestyle is a way of living that involves little or no physical activity, characterised by prolonged sitting or inactivity. Three health consequences: (1) Obesity - low energy expenditure means excess calories are stored as fat, leading to weight gain and BMI over 30. (2) Coronary heart disease - lack of exercise weakens the heart, contributes to high cholesterol and blood pressure, and allows fatty deposits to build up in coronary arteries. (3) Osteoporosis - without weight-bearing exercise, bones do not receive the mechanical stress needed to maintain density, becoming weak and brittle with increased fracture risk.

Answer: BMI = Body Weight (kg) ÷ Height (m)² = 85 ÷ (1.70)² = 85 ÷ 2.89 = 29.4. Classification: Overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9). This person is at the upper end of the overweight category, close to the obese threshold of 30.

Answer: Obesity reduces cardiovascular endurance because the heart must work harder to pump blood and deliver oxygen to a larger body mass. VO₂ max relative to body weight is lower, meaning the obese person cannot sustain aerobic activity for as long. The extra weight increases the energy cost of movement, causing faster fatigue. Obesity increases injury risk because excess body weight places greater stress on weight-bearing joints (knees, ankles, hips), increasing the risk of osteoarthritis and stress fractures. Falls cause more damage due to the greater impact force of a heavier body. Recovery from injury is slower because reduced fitness levels and poorer circulation slow the healing process.

Answer: Mental impacts on a young person: low self-esteem and poor body image from comparing themselves to peers; depression and anxiety from social stigma; stress and embarrassment about their weight; lack of confidence to participate in physical activities, creating a vicious cycle. Social impacts: bullying and teasing about their weight at school; avoidance of PE lessons and social activities involving physical activity or swimming; social isolation from not joining in with active peers; potential discrimination and exclusion from friendship groups centred around sport and active play.

Answer: A sedentary lifestyle leads to type 2 diabetes through: (1) Lack of physical activity reduces the body's sensitivity to insulin, meaning cells are less able to absorb glucose from the blood. (2) Inactivity contributes to weight gain and excess body fat, particularly visceral fat around the abdomen, which is strongly linked to insulin resistance. (3) Without the regular blood glucose-lowering effects of exercise, blood sugar levels remain elevated over time. (4) The combination of insulin resistance and consistently high blood glucose eventually leads to the development of type 2 diabetes.

Answer: Muscle atrophy occurs because muscles that are not used regularly decrease in size and strength - the principle of "use it or lose it." Without regular resistance or weight-bearing activity, muscle fibres shrink and the body loses muscle mass. This creates a vicious cycle because: weaker muscles make physical activity harder and more tiring, the person exercises less due to the difficulty, muscles atrophy further from even less use, metabolic rate drops (muscle burns more calories than fat), making weight gain easier, the person becomes more sedentary, and the cycle continues. Breaking this cycle requires gradually increasing activity to rebuild muscle strength.