IB Sports, exercise and health science A.3.2 Benefits to Health of Being Active Key Definitions

Body fat that stores energy and fat-soluble vitamins.

Chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.

A negative emotional state marked by feelings of nervousness, worry, and apprehension about future events, often without a clear external cause.

Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of fatty deposits (plaque) in the arterial walls, which causes the arteries to become stiff and narrow, reducing blood flow.

White blood cells responsible for producing antibodies that fight off pathogens.

The amount of energy required by the body to maintain basic physiological functions at rest.

A measurement that uses height and weight to assess whether an individual has a healthy body weight.

Bone is a dense, hard connective tissue that forms the skeletal structure of the body, playing an essential role in movement, support, and protection of vital organs.

Bone mineral density (BMD) is the amount of mineral (mainly calcium) per unit area of bone, used as the main measure of bone strength.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) refers to a broad range of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.

Clinical depression is a mental illness involving long-term depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration, lasting months or years and interfering with daily life.

The mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and understanding, including memory, learning, and problem-solving.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a narrowing of the coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis, reducing blood supply to the heart muscle and raising the risk of heart attack.

A hormone produced during stress that, in excess, can suppress immune function and impair immune responses.

A cytokine is a protein that acts as a chemical messenger to regulate the immune system.

Muscle pain and stiffness that occurs after intense exercise, usually within 24–72 hours, caused by microscopic muscle tears that occur during eccentric muscle contractions.

Effect size is a standardised measure of the magnitude of an observed effect. It allows results from studies that used different scales or variables to be compared on a common metric.

Natural chemicals produced by the body during exercise that act as mood enhancers and contribute to feelings of well-being.

Energy balance refers to the relationship between the energy taken in (food and drink) and the energy expended (through basal metabolic rate, physical activity, and digestion).

Exercise prescription is the process of designing a structured exercise program that is specifically tailored to meet an individual’s health or performance goals.

Fatigue refers to the reduced capacity of muscles to perform due to prolonged exertion.

A form of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy, which can be managed with regular physical activity to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Ghrelin is an appetite-stimulating hormone released mainly by the stomach. Ghrelin rises before meals and falls after eating.

A type of cholesterol that is considered "good" because it helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream, reducing the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries.