Radiation poisoning, for example, will make you walk crooked and
slow health regeneration, while the well fed status increases the health points you get back.
A trip to the shop before selecting your level can help to push the boss battle odds slightly back in your favour, with
health upgrades,
slow - mo
regeneration upgrades and plenty of powerful weapons available to buy, but affording these will take finishing several levels to ensure you have enough coin to buy them, something which isn't a joyous task when you're breezing through the game's easy setting over and over just to get something powerful enough to conquer the normal setting.