Plan this problem and solution essay about food with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Obesity is becoming more common in many countries, partly because people eat large amounts of fast food and processed products.
What are the causes of this problem and what measures could be taken to solve it?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Obesity rates are rising in many countries, and a diet rich in fast food and processed products is often blamed. This essay will look at the causes of the problem and propose some measures to deal with it.
One cause is that unhealthy food is cheap, convenient and heavily advertised. A burger meal costs less than a salad in many places, and television and online advertisements make it appealing, especially to children. Lifestyle is another factor. People who work long hours often have little time or energy to cook, so they rely on ready meals and takeaways. Portion sizes in restaurants and supermarkets have also grown, which encourages people to eat more than they need. Together with a lack of exercise, these habits cause weight gain, and over the years the effects on health become serious.
Several solutions are possible. Governments could introduce taxes on products high in sugar and fat, which would make them more expensive and encourage consumers to choose alternatives; the revenue could subsidise fresh fruit and vegetables. Nutrition education in schools is equally important. If children learn about balanced diets and practise basic cooking, they will be better equipped to make healthy choices as adults and may influence their families. Finally, clear labelling on packaging, such as traffic-light colours showing sugar, salt and fat content, would help shoppers to understand what they are buying. Restrictions on advertising to children, as already applied in some countries, could add further protection.
In conclusion, obesity is caused by the availability and promotion of cheap, unhealthy food combined with busy lifestyles. Taxation, education and better labelling would help people, especially the young, to eat more healthily.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| processed food | food changed by industrial methods |
| balanced diet | food with all necessary nutrients |
| calorie intake | energy taken from food |
| portion size | amount served |
| nutrition labels | information on packaging |
| sedentary lifestyle | inactive way of living |
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