Physical Activity

What Physical Activity covers

Physical Activity is examined in Unit AS 2, Diet, Lifestyle and Health — examined, compulsory. It covers UK physical activity guidelines, activity, heart health and energy balance and bone, joint, muscle and mental health benefits.

The 3 subtopics

Each one has its own page. CCEA AS Nutrition and Food Science students sit this topic in the first year.

• UK physical activity guidelinesThe UK Chief Medical Officers' 2019 guidelines for infants, children, adults and older adults, moderate and vigorous activity, strength work and sedentary time.Open →
• Activity, heart health and energy balanceHow aerobic activity changes the heart, blood pressure and blood lipids, reduces cardiovascular risk and helps energy balance, with worked energy examples.Open →
• Bone, joint, muscle and mental health benefitsWeight-bearing activity and bone density, joints and osteoarthritis, resistance training and sarcopenia, falls, posture, mood, anxiety and self-esteem.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Physical Activity further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Moderate activity vs Vigorous activity

  Moderate activity: exercise that raises the heart rate but still allows conversation. Vigorous activity: exercise hard enough that only a few words can be spoken between breaths.

• Aerobic exercise vs Anaerobic exercise

  Aerobic exercise: sustained effort powered by oxygen, such as a steady jog. Anaerobic exercise: short, intense effort that outpaces oxygen supply, such as a sprint.

• Sedentary behaviour vs Physical inactivity

  Sedentary behaviour: time spent sitting or lying with very low energy use while awake. Physical inactivity: not meeting the recommended amounts of movement each week.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   Which guidelines set out current UK advice on physical activity?

   Model answer

   The UK Chief Medical Officers' Physical Activity Guidelines were published in 2019. The guidelines cover every age group from infants to older adults.

2. 2

   According to the UK Chief Medical Officers (2019), how much physical activity should children and young people aged 5 to 18 do?

   Model answer

   Children and young people should average at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day across the week.

3. 3

   What types of activity should children aged 5 to 18 do across the week, in addition to meeting the daily average?

   Model answer

   Children should do a variety of types and intensities of activity across the week. The mix should develop movement skills, muscular fitness and bone strength.

4. 4

   How did the 2019 guidelines change the advice for children from the earlier version?

   Model answer

   The earlier guideline asked for at least 60 minutes every day. The 2019 guideline allows an average of 60 minutes a day across the week.

5. 5

   State the UK guideline for aerobic activity in adults aged 19 to 64.

   Model answer

   Adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week. A combination of the two, spread across the week, also meets the guideline.

6. 6

   How often should adults do muscle strengthening activity, and what should it involve?

   Model answer

   Adults should do strengthening activity on at least two days a week. The activity should work all the major muscle groups, as in lifting weights, carrying heavy shopping or heavy gardening.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Physical Activity revision questions

Is Physical Activity examined at AS in CCEA Nutrition and Food Science?

Yes. It sits in AS 2, which you take in the first year, so it is on the AS paper as well as counting towards the full A level.

What does Physical Activity cover in CCEA AS-Level Nutrition and Food Science?

3 subtopics: uk physical activity guidelines, activity, heart health and energy balance and bone, joint, muscle and mental health benefits. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Physical Activity organised?

By the CCEA 3310 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.