Social Issues in the UK Health and Wealth Inequalities National Qualifications

Social Issues in the UK Starter Task Below is a list of words that link to today’s lesson. In pairs, try to explain what the link between the words are. Why might they be important to the lesson? Social ClassObesity SmokingAlcohol Drugs

Today we will Identify how lifestyle choices can affect your health.

I can… Give reasons as to why lifestyle choices can affect your health. List evidence of lifestyle choices which can lead to health inequalities.

Health Inequalities and Lifestyle

A person’s lifestyle is believed to have a significant effect on their health. Diet Exercise Obesity Smoking, drinking and drugs Lifestyle Factors include:

Obesity During last 25 years, the rate of obesity in adults has quadrupled in the UK. Obesity can lead to a variety of health problems: high blood pressure and coronary heart disease, diabetes. Lowest social class has high levels of obesity which matches American levels whilst the highest social class has the lowest. What is the link between social class and obesity?

Smoking Smoking accounts for 24 per cent of all deaths in Scotland, 34 per cent in some areas Lifelong smokers die on average about 10 years younger than non-smokers. Smoking also causes a great deal of long-term ill- health due to diseases of the heart, lungs and arteries and a long list of cancers.

Smoking rates have fallen in more affluent areas. You are more likely to smoke if you live in a deprived area. There is a widening gap in health inequalities related to smoking. Smoking explains at least half of the inequalities in health.

Diet and Exercise Poor choices in life are often a result of the stress of poverty. People know, for example, that smoking is unhealthy. But smoking is a temporary escape, a coping mechanism when life is hard and the outlook is tough. Likewise with alcohol and food. In terms of lack of exercise, the motivation to do exercise can be low when individuals suffer from low confidence and low self-esteem. Those who are in work and have a good income feel better about themselves, and are much more likely to get involved in sport. They are much more interested in messages about healthy lifestyles.

Write 5 sentences summarising today’s topic… Now reduce that to 5 key words… And finally to one word…. What have I learned?

Exam Question Practice Many people in the UK have good health while others do not Explain, in detail, why many people in the UK have good health while others do not (6) Brainstorm, in pairs, what you would include in this answer. On the next slide, look at the examples- what marks would you give them?

Possible approached to answering the question: Some people have good health because they eat vegetables. [1 mark—accurate but undeveloped point] Some people have good health because they take regular exercise which keeps their heart fit and strong. [2 marks—accurate point with development] Some people have poor health as they may live in a poor quality house. If they have inadequate heating or their house is damp then conditions like asthma and bronchitis are more likely. [3 marks—accurate point with development and exemplification]

Some people have poor health due to the choices they make in the way they live their lives. Smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer, drinkers are more likely to damage their liver and those who abuse heroin are more likely to fall victim to HIV/AIDS. People choose to do these things but they are also linked to poverty, ie people who live in poverty are more likely to choose to abuse themselves in these ways. This is shown by the fact that life expectancy in Scotland’s poorest areas is almost twenty years less than in its wealthiest areas. [4 marks—relevant, accurate point with development, analysis and exemplification]

How to PEE When answering questions in Modern Studies you must… Make a P oint E xplain your point …and Give E xamples The previous answer was a PEE sample. Remember to always PEE on your answers

Marking Scheme Lifestyle factors—eg the effects of smoking, drink/alcohol abuse, lack of exercise. Social and economic disadvantages—eg poor diet, effects of poverty. Geography and environment—eg poor quality housing, limited access to local amenities, high levels of crime. Age—The older you are the more likely you are to suffer poor health. Gender—Women live longer than men but are more likely to suffer poor health. Race—High incidence of heart attacks, strokes, depression etc amongst some ethnic minorities. Also more likely to suffer socio-economic disadvantage and therefore suffer ill health due to this.

Other Possible Questions Explain, in detail, why health inequalities continue to exist in The UK.

Was I successful? Give reasons as to why lifestyle choices can affect your health. List evidence of lifestyle choices which can lead to health inequalities.