The effect of lifestyle on diseaseSpec 4.2.2.6
In short
Lifestyle factors affect the incidence of non-communicable diseases. Diet, smoking and lack of exercise increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Obesity is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Too much alcohol damages the liver and affects the brain. Smoking causes lung disease and lung cancer, and carcinogens, including ionising radiation, can cause cancer.
You need to be able to explain the effect of lifestyle factors including diet, alcohol and smoking on the incidence of non-communicable diseases.
| Risk factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Diet, smoking and exercise: cardiovascular disease | A diet high in saturated fat can raise blood cholesterol, which leads to fatty deposits in the arteries. Chemicals in tobacco smoke damage the artery lining and raise blood pressure, and carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen the blood can carry. Regular exercise reduces the risk |
| Obesity: Type 2 diabetes | Obesity is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes |
| Alcohol: liver and brain | Drinking too much alcohol over a long time damages the liver. Alcohol also affects brain function, for example slowing reactions, and long-term heavy drinking can damage the brain |
| Smoking: lung disease and lung cancer | Smoking damages the lungs and airways, causing lung disease. Tar in tobacco smoke contains chemicals that cause lung cancer |
| Smoking and alcohol: unborn babies | Smoking in pregnancy can cause low birth weight and premature birth. Alcohol in pregnancy can damage the baby's development, including the brain |
| Carcinogens (including ionising radiation): cancer | A carcinogen is a substance or type of radiation that can cause cancer, such as chemicals in tobacco smoke. Ionising radiation, such as X-rays and gamma rays, can damage the DNA in cells |
Because lifestyles differ, the incidence of these diseases is different in different places. Diseases linked to diet and obesity, for example, are more common in places where people eat more high-energy food and take less exercise. This is true at local, national and global levels.
To ‘explain’ an effect, give the link: risk factor, what it does in the body, then the disease it leads to.
Written and checked against the AQA GCSE Combined Science (8464) specification · Updated October 2026