Non-communicable diseases — Edexcel GCSE Biology
Multiple causes of non-communicable disease, lifestyle effects at local, national and global level, BMI, and treating cardiovascular disease.
Revision notes
3 short notes, in the order of the specification. Each one in short:
Many non-communicable diseases are caused by the interaction of a number of factors, so no single factor usually explains why one person gets the disease. Factors can be lifestyle, such as diet, smoking and alcohol, environmental, such as air pollution or harmful radiation, or inherited. Several factors together increase the risk more than one alone.
Lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise, alcohol and smoking affect the risk of non-communicable diseases at local, national and global levels. Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and is assessed using BMI = mass (kg) ÷ height (m)² and the waist : hip ratio. Too much alcohol damages the liver, and smoking damages the lining of arteries.
Cardiovascular disease is disease of the heart or blood vessels. It is treated with life-long medication, such as statins to lower cholesterol, surgical procedures, such as stents, bypass surgery or a heart transplant, and lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking, eating a balanced diet and exercising. Each treatment has advantages and disadvantages to weigh up.
Exam questions
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Quick check questions
What does it mean that many non-communicable diseases are caused by an interaction of factors?
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Several factors, such as lifestyle, environmental and inherited factors, act together to cause the disease, rather than one factor alone.
Write the BMI equation.
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BMI = mass (kg) ÷ height (m)²
How does smoking increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?
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It damages artery linings, so fatty deposits build up and arteries narrow; nicotine raises heart rate and blood pressure.
Which disease is linked to drinking too much alcohol?
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Liver disease, for example cirrhosis.
Give one advantage and one disadvantage of life-long medication.
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It reduces risk without surgery; it must be taken for life and may have side effects.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate BMI?
BMI is calculated as mass in kilograms divided by height in metres squared: BMI = mass (kg) ÷ height (m)². For example, a person with a mass of 72 kg and a height of 1.80 m has a BMI of 72 ÷ 3.24 = 22.2. A high BMI suggests a person is overweight or obese.
What are the risk factors for cardiovascular disease?
The risk factors for cardiovascular disease include an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol and inherited factors. Many non-communicable diseases are caused by an interaction of factors, so having several together increases the risk more than having one alone. Smoking damages the lining of arteries, and nicotine raises heart rate and blood pressure.
How does alcohol damage the liver?
The liver breaks down alcohol, and drinking too much over a long time damages liver cells. This can cause liver diseases such as a fatty liver, inflammation and scarring, called cirrhosis, which can lead to liver failure. This makes drinking too much alcohol a lifestyle factor for some non-communicable liver diseases.
What are the treatments for cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease is treated with lifestyle changes, life-long medication or surgery. Lifestyle changes are cheap with no side effects but take time to work. Medication such as statins lowers cholesterol but must be taken every day. Surgery, such as stents, bypass surgery or a heart transplant, helps severe disease quickly but carries risks such as infection.
What does the waist to hip ratio show?
The waist : hip ratio shows how much fat is stored around the waist. It is waist circumference ÷ hip circumference, in the same units, so it has no units. A high ratio is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. For example, a waist of 81 cm and hips of 90 cm give 0.90.
Written and checked against the Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) specification · Updated October 2026