What is the difference between health, fitness, exercise and well-being, and how are they related?
The definitions and differences between health, fitness, exercise, performance and well-being, and the relationship between health and fitness.
A focused answer to Eduqas GCSE PE Component 1 on the definitions of health, fitness, exercise, performance and well-being, the differences between them, and how health and fitness are related but not the same thing.
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to define health, fitness, exercise, performance and well-being precisely, explain the differences between them, and show that you understand the relationship between health and fitness: they are linked, but they are not the same thing.
The key definitions
Notice that health is defined across three dimensions, not just the body. A performer who is physically strong but very stressed and isolated is not in a state of complete well-being, so they are not fully healthy.
The relationship between health and fitness
This is the point Eduqas tests most often, so it is worth fixing with examples.
- Fit but not healthy: a county-level distance runner with a chest infection is highly fit (excellent cardiovascular endurance) but is not currently in good health.
- Healthy but not fit: a person who is free of any illness, eats well and sleeps well is healthy, but if they never exercise they may be unable to run for a bus, so they lack fitness.
The three dimensions of well-being
Eduqas links well-being to participation. Regular exercise improves all three dimensions:
- Physical well-being: a stronger heart and muscles, controlled body weight, better immune function and a lower risk of disease.
- Mental well-being: the release of endorphins, reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep and improved self-esteem and confidence.
- Social well-being: friendship, cooperation, teamwork and a sense of belonging from clubs and team sport.
Being able to give a clear example for each dimension is how you earn the application marks on a well-being question.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas 20193 marksUsing examples, explain the difference between health and fitness.Show worked answer →
A Component 1 definitions question. Award marks for both definitions and a clear point of difference.
Award marks for: health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (the World Health Organization definition). Fitness is the ability to meet the demands of the environment, or to carry out daily activities without undue fatigue. The key difference is that a person can be fit but not healthy, and healthy but not fit. For example, a marathon runner who has a heavy cold is very fit but not currently healthy; an office worker who is free of illness is healthy but may not be fit enough to run a marathon.
Markers reward a worked example showing the two are not the same. A common dropped mark is treating health and fitness as identical.
Eduqas 20214 marksExplain how regular exercise can improve a performer's physical, mental and social well-being. Use an example for each.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark well-being question. Markers reward all three dimensions of well-being, applied.
Award marks for: physical well-being improves because exercise strengthens the heart and muscles, controls body weight and reduces the risk of disease (for example, regular cycling lowers resting heart rate and the risk of heart disease). Mental well-being improves because exercise releases endorphins, reduces stress and anxiety and can improve self-esteem (for example, a swimmer feels less stressed and sleeps better). Social well-being improves because team sport and clubs provide friendship, cooperation and a sense of belonging (for example, joining a netball team builds new friendships and teamwork).
A top answer names a clear example for each of the three dimensions, not just a single benefit repeated.
Related dot points
- The components of fitness (cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, strength, flexibility, speed, power, agility, balance, coordination and reaction time), how each is defined, and how they are applied to different sporting activities.
A focused answer to Eduqas GCSE PE Component 1 on the components of fitness: the definitions of cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, strength, flexibility, speed, power, agility, balance, coordination and reaction time, and how each is applied to a named sport.
- The principles of training (specificity, progressive overload, reversibility and tedium), the FITT principle (frequency, intensity, time, type), and how to apply them when planning a training programme.
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- The components of a balanced diet (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water), the role of each, energy balance and its effect on body weight, and how diet and hydration affect sporting performance and health.
A focused answer to Eduqas GCSE PE Component 1 on diet and nutrition: the seven components of a balanced diet and their roles, the energy values of the macronutrients, energy balance and its effect on body weight, hydration, and how diet affects sporting performance and health.
- The short-term (immediate) effects of exercise on the musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and the long-term effects (training adaptations) of regular exercise on the same systems.
A focused answer to Eduqas GCSE PE Component 1 on the effects of exercise: the short-term responses of the muscular, cardiovascular and respiratory systems to a single session, and the long-term adaptations such as cardiac hypertrophy, muscle hypertrophy and a lower resting heart rate.
- The factors affecting participation and engagement in physical activity and sport (age, gender, ethnicity, disability, socio-economic group), the barriers to participation, and the strategies and provision used to raise participation across different groups.
A focused answer to Eduqas GCSE PE Component 1 on participation and engagement: the factors affecting participation (age, gender, ethnicity, disability, socio-economic group), the barriers people face, and the strategies and provision used to raise participation across different groups.
Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas GCSE (9-1) Physical Education C550QS specification — Eduqas (2016)