Health, Fitness and Wellbeing: Physical, Emotional and Social Health and Wellbeing
Health, fitness and wellbeing are three related but different concepts that GCSE PE specifications test separately, and confusing them is a common way to lose marks.
Before you start
No specific prerequisites - this is a good place to start.
Method
- Learn the WHO definition of health word for word: 'a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'.
- Learn that fitness means the ability to meet the demands of the environment - it is about physical capability, not the absence of illness.
- Learn that wellbeing is the broadest term, covering physical, emotional and social quality of life, and that a person can score well on one dimension and poorly on another.
- For each dimension (physical, emotional, social), learn one clear mechanism by which exercise improves it, not just a one-word label.
- When a question uses the command word 'state' or 'identify', give a short, precise fact with no explanation needed. When it uses 'explain', give the fact plus the reason or mechanism behind it.
- For 'distinguish between' questions, define both terms and then write one sentence that directly contrasts them, ideally using a real-world example.
- For an extended 'discuss' or 'assess' question on health, fitness and wellbeing, plan to cover all three dimensions (physical, emotional, social) with a developed, exemplified point for each rather than writing more about only one.
Worked example
Explain, using an example, why a professional athlete could be described as 'fit' without necessarily being 'healthy'.
- Define fitness: the ability to meet the demands of the environment, e.g. having the strength, stamina and skill a sport requires.
- Define health: a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease.
- Identify that fitness only measures physical capability for a specific task, while health is broader and includes mental and social wellbeing.
- Apply this to an example: an elite marathon runner may have outstanding cardiovascular fitness but suffer from asthma, or from anxiety linked to the pressure of competition.
- Conclude: because health also depends on the absence of illness and on mental and social wellbeing, this athlete is highly fit but not fully healthy.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1State the WHO definition of health.Show answer
Answer: 'A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.'
Q2Define fitness.Show answer
Answer: The ability to meet the demands of the environment - having the physical capacity to cope with a given task or activity.
Q3Define wellbeing.Show answer
Answer: A general state of comfort, health and happiness, made up of physical, emotional and social dimensions.
Q4Give one social benefit of taking part in physical activity.Show answer
Answer: It creates opportunities to make friends and work as part of a team, reducing social isolation (accept other valid social benefits, e.g. improved cooperation and communication skills).
Q5Give one emotional (mental) benefit of taking part in physical activity.Show answer
Answer: It releases endorphins, which reduce stress and anxiety and improve mood and self-esteem.
Q6Give one physical benefit of taking part in physical activity.Show answer
Answer: It improves the efficiency of the heart, lungs, muscles or bones, and lowers the risk of diseases such as coronary heart disease (accept any valid physical benefit).
Q7True or false: a person can be free of illness but still not be fully healthy. Justify your answer.Show answer
Answer: True - health also depends on mental and social wellbeing, so someone free of physical disease but experiencing high stress or isolation is not fully healthy.
Q8Which of the three wellbeing dimensions - physical, emotional or social - is most directly improved by joining a new sports club? Justify your choice.Show answer
Answer: Social wellbeing, because joining a club creates new friendships and a sense of belonging to a team (physical and emotional benefits may also be credited if justified).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Physical Education exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Distinguish between health and fitness.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Explain two emotional benefits that a person could gain from regularly taking part in physical activity.
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Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
'Regular participation in physical activity is the most effective way to improve a person's overall wellbeing.' Discuss this statement, referring to physical, emotional and social health and wellbeing in your answer.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 9 available
See real GCSE Physical Education past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the health, fitness and wellbeing: physical, emotional and social health and wellbeing worksheet pack - 10 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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