Plan this problem and solution essay about health 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:
Children today eat more sugary and processed foods than previous generations, and childhood obesity is increasing.
What problems does this cause? 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.
Children today consume far more sugary and processed food than earlier generations, and childhood obesity is rising. This essay will discuss the problems this causes and suggest measures to address them.
The trend has several causes and serious consequences. Cheap, heavily advertised snacks and drinks are easy to buy, and busy parents often rely on ready meals. The result is that many children gain excess weight, which raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart problems and joint pain at an early age. Poor diets also affect energy and concentration in class, and overweight children may suffer from bullying and low self-esteem, which damages their mental health. Dental decay is another widespread problem. In the long term, a generation of unhealthy adults would place an enormous burden on healthcare budgets.
Several measures could improve the situation. Governments can tax sugary drinks, restrict advertising aimed at children and require clearer labels showing the sugar content of products. Schools can provide nutritious meals, remove vending machines and teach pupils how to cook and why balanced eating matters. Parents have the most direct influence: they can keep fruit and vegetables at home, cook with their children and limit snacks, setting an example through their own habits. Local authorities could make healthy food more affordable and build safe playgrounds, so that children also exercise more. In the United Kingdom, healthier school meal standards introduced in recent years have already improved what many pupils eat each day.
In conclusion, unhealthy diets harm children's physical and emotional wellbeing and create costs for society, but cooperation between governments, schools and families can reverse the trend and give the next generation a healthier future.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| processed food | food made industrially |
| convenience meals | ready-made food |
| nutrition education | teaching about healthy eating |
| food labelling | information on packaging |
| healthy eating habits | good routines for food |
| health risks | dangers to health |
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