Data & Applications of Lifestyle Disease (AQA GCSE Biology: Combined Science)

• Sampling allows researchers to infer (deduce/conclude) information about a population without having to investigate every individual which would be time-consuming and essentially impossible to do accurately
• Scientists sample populations to determine risk factors for different diseases and inform public health policy
  • For example; sampling individuals with type 2 diabetes and identifying patterns or similarities in their lifestyle and health condition allows scientists to deduce that obesity and a diet high in sugar and fat are risk factors for developing this condition (as these factors are found in most individuals who develop type 2 diabetes)

• Scientists present their findings in graphical and numerical forms top identify if there are relationships between risk factors and certain disease
• Scatter diagrams are used to identify correlations between two variables to determine if a factor (such as obesity) does increase the risk of developing a disease (such as type 2 diabetes)

• Lifestyle factors such as diet, alcohol consumption and choosing to smoke have a big impact on the incidence of non-communicable diseases at all levels in society (from the individual to national and globally)
• Poor lifestyle factors such as those mentioned above increase the likelihood of individuals within a population suffering from non-communicable disease
  • Remember a non-communicable disease is not caused by a pathogen and tends to have more longer-lasting effects on the health of an individual (usually they get progressively worse over time)

Smoking as an example

• An individual who smokes cigarettes is far more likely to suffer lung cancer than an individual who doesn’t
• Treatment for cancer includes surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy – all of these require hospitalisation and access to the right medication
• Hospitalisation utilises healthcare capacity and medicinal drugs – costing time and money at both a local and national level (and a personal level if healthcare is self-funded)
• The individual with lung cancer may not be able to work whilst receiving treatment, this reduces their income and loss of work can have a profound effect on mental health
• Nationally; the inability of individuals to work can affect a countries economy
• A causal mechanism has been proven for some risk factors, but not in others