OCR GCSE PE: Health, fitness and well-being (Component 02) overview
An overview of the health, fitness and well-being content in OCR GCSE PE (J587) Component 02, mapping the benefits of activity, the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle, diet and nutrition and energy balance, and how they are examined on the second written paper.
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Health, fitness and well-being is one of the three areas of Component 02: Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology in OCR GCSE PE (specification J587), examined on the second written paper (J587/02). This page maps the topic and links to a focused answer page for each part.
The health, fitness and well-being content
- Health and well-being
- The definitions of health, fitness and well-being, and the physical, emotional and social benefits of activity. See Health and well-being.
- Consequences of a sedentary lifestyle
- The meaning of sedentary, the classification of body weight, and the physical, emotional and social risks of inactivity including obesity. See Consequences of a sedentary lifestyle.
- Diet and nutrition
- The seven components of a balanced diet, the role of each nutrient, hydration, and adapting diet to sport. See Diet and nutrition.
- Energy balance
- Energy use, energy in versus energy out, the effect on body weight, and calculating energy values. See Energy balance.
How this topic is examined
Health, fitness and well-being is assessed on Component 02 (J587/02), a 1 hour written paper worth 60 marks and 30 percent of the GCSE, shared with socio-cultural influences and sports psychology. Questions range from multiple-choice and short-answer through calculations (energy values) to extended responses worth up to six marks, including the benefits of activity across all three dimensions of health.
How to study health, fitness and well-being
- Learn the three-part definition of health. Physical, emotional and social well-being, not just the absence of illness.
- Cover all three dimensions. Benefits and consequences span physical, emotional and social health.
- Know the balanced diet. The seven components and the role of each, plus hydration.
- Master energy balance. Energy in versus energy out and the effect on weight, with the calculation.
- Link the topics. Diet, activity and energy balance together decide a healthy weight and avoid the risks of inactivity.
For the official specification
OCR publishes the full specification (J587), past papers and mark schemes at ocr.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and OCR's own past papers, because question style is board-specific.
Sources & how we know this
- OCR GCSE (9-1) Physical Education J587 specification — OCR (2016)