Diet-related health: obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay, bone health (osteoporosis), iron-deficiency anaemia and bowel health, their links to diet, and the dietary changes that reduce the risk.

What this dot point is asking

Eduqas wants you to link a poor diet to specific health conditions and, just as importantly, to explain the dietary changes that reduce the risk. The strongest answers name the nutrient, name the condition, and explain the mechanism that connects them, then give a realistic change.

Obesity and energy balance

Obesity is the central diet-related problem because it raises the risk of so many others: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and joint problems. The change that helps is to bring energy back into balance: eat less energy-dense food (high in fat and free sugar), eat more filling, lower-energy food (vegetables, wholegrains), and be more active.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

The dietary change is to reduce saturated fat (butter, fatty meat, pastry, cakes) and replace it with unsaturated fat (olive and rapeseed oil, oily fish, nuts), and to eat more soluble fibre (oats, beans), which helps lower cholesterol.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Eating too much salt (sodium) makes the body hold on to water, which raises blood pressure. High blood pressure strains the heart and arteries and is a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease. Adults should eat no more than 6 g of salt a day. The change is to add less salt in cooking and at the table, choose lower-salt versions of processed foods (bread, sauces, ready meals carry most of the salt), and flavour food with herbs, spices, lemon and pepper instead.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is when the body cannot control blood glucose properly because the cells stop responding well to insulin (insulin resistance), strongly linked to obesity and a diet high in free sugar and energy. It causes tiredness, thirst and, over time, damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and circulation. The change is to lose excess weight, cut free sugar and refined carbohydrate, choose wholegrain (low glycaemic index) starchy foods, and be more active.

Tooth decay (dental caries)

Bacteria in the mouth feed on free sugars and produce acid, which dissolves tooth enamel and causes decay. Frequent sugary snacks and drinks are the main cause, because each sugar hit triggers an acid attack. The change is to reduce the amount and especially the frequency of sugary food and drink, drink water or milk instead of sugary drinks, and get enough fluoride (in toothpaste and some water), which hardens enamel.

Bone health and osteoporosis

Bones need calcium to be hard and strong, and vitamin D to absorb that calcium. A diet short of either, especially during the teenage years when bone is being laid down, leads to weak bones: rickets in children and osteoporosis (brittle, easily fractured bones) in later life. The change is to eat enough calcium (milk, cheese, yoghurt, fortified plant drinks, leafy greens, canned fish with bones) and get vitamin D from oily fish, eggs, fortified foods and safe sunlight.

Iron-deficiency anaemia and bowel health

A lack of iron means the body cannot make enough haemoglobin, so the blood carries less oxygen: this is iron-deficiency anaemia, with tiredness, paleness and breathlessness. The change is to eat more iron (red meat, dark leafy greens, pulses, fortified cereals) with a source of vitamin C, which helps absorb iron.

A lack of fibre (NSP) causes constipation and raises the risk of bowel disorders such as diverticular disease and bowel cancer. The change is to eat more wholegrains, fruit, vegetables and pulses, and drink enough water.

Try this

Q1. Name the condition caused by eating too much salt over a long time. [1 mark]

• Cue. High blood pressure (hypertension).

Q2. Explain why a diet low in calcium and vitamin D can lead to weak bones. [3 marks]

• Cue. Calcium hardens bone; vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium; without enough of both, bone is weak, causing rickets in children and osteoporosis later.