Less active lifestyles: IELTS essay ideas

People in many countries are less physically active than in earlier generations. This essay will discuss the reasons for this change and suggest how people could be encouraged to move more.

The main cause is the change in the type of work and leisure that people do. Many jobs now involve sitting at a desk and looking at a computer for eight hours, whereas in the past large numbers of people worked in farms and factories where they were constantly on their feet. In their free time, people tend to stay indoors with televisions, games consoles and smartphones. Transport is another factor. Cars, buses and lifts have replaced walking, and even short journeys to the shop are often made by vehicle. Convenience services such as online shopping and food delivery reduce the need to leave the house.

Various measures could help. Employers can introduce fitness schemes, such as gym memberships, standing desks, lunchtime walking groups or short exercise breaks, since they also benefit from healthier and more productive staff. Governments and local councils should invest in public sports programmes, including low-cost classes and community events that appeal to different ages. Equally important is the environment. If cities provide safe pavements, cycle lanes and attractive parks, people will find it easier and more pleasant to walk or ride a bicycle to work. Copenhagen, where a large share of residents cycle every day, illustrates how good infrastructure changes habits.

In conclusion, people exercise less today because of sedentary jobs, screen-based entertainment and motorised transport. Workplace initiatives, public programmes and well-designed cities could together persuade people to build physical activity back into their daily lives.