People Are Damaging Their Health by Eating Too Much Junk Food – IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay

The Discussion essay topic, ‘People Are Damaging Their Health by Eating Too Much Junk Food’, would require you to answer the question within 40 minutes. In this essay type, you must consider both viewpoints on a specific matter and justify them with appropriate reasons. Even though you might find it difficult to maintain a balance between the discussion and your personal stance, you can easily score a band 8+ with a clear structure and good planning. This essay topic in the IELTS Writing section will make you showcase your critical thinking and writing skills in a systematic manner.

How to Ideate for the IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay, ‘People Are Damaging Their Health by Eating Too Much Junk Food’

Strong ideation is the main factor for a band 8+ in the IELTS Writing Task 2 essay.  You must start to discuss both viewpoints before giving your opinion on the topic, ‘People Are Damaging Their Health by Eating Too Much Junk Food’. With the knowledge on the four criteria based on which you will be evaluated, you need to organize your ideas to form the arguments that are balanced. Below are the tips which you can follow while writing an essay that is coherent, persuasive, and well-structured based on the four parameters.

Question - IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay, ‘People Are Damaging Their Health by Eating Too Much Junk Food’

Structure Breakdown for the IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay, ‘People Are Damaging Their Health by Eating Too Much Junk Food’

Achieving an IELTS Band Score of 8+ in the IELTS Writing Task 2 requires good language skills along with clear, deep, and precise presentation of your ideas. In the topic, ‘People Are Damaging Their Health by Eating Too Much Junk Food’, you need to show critical thinking, well-structured arguments, and vocabulary related to health and lifestyle. Below is the structure breakdown which can guide you as you plan for writing this essay.

Want to learn How to write an IELTS Discussion Essay? Check out the video below!

Sample Answer 1 on ‘People Are Damaging Their Health by Eating Too Much Junk Food’

Fast food has been proven to be the main culprit of obesity and other diet-related diseases, however, the habit of eating an excessive amount of fast food has never lost momentum.  One school of thought holds that education can rectify this situation; however, there is still much scepticism about the effect of education.  In this essay, both of these viewpoints will be analysed.

On the one hand, education can stop people from further damaging their health by consuming fast food. Although many eat fast food because of its affordability, the root cause of this lies in the fact that they are not adequately educated about the damaging consequences of junk food consumption, and the benefits of healthy eating. According to recent studies conducted in the neighbourhoods where fast food stores are easily accessible, more than two-quarters of the residents know or care little about what they are consuming and how it can affect their health.

On the other hand, education alone will not work. The fact is that many people who are aware of the consequences of eating junk food are unduly pessimistic. In other words, they are often in denial and convince themselves that unhealthy habits are not as terrible as the media want them to believe. Secondly, it is very difficult for fast food eaters to reduce their dependency on fast food because it contains many addictive artificial flavours.

To conclude, education is one viable solution to put a stop to the obesity epidemic, but it does not suffice.  I feel that more efforts should be made to combat obesity.

Vocabulary for Sample Answer 1 on ‘People Are Damaging Their Health by Eating Too Much Junk Food’

• Lose momentum - To slow down or weaken after the initial progress

Eg: The trend of junk food consumption has never lost momentum despite health campaigns.

• Scepticism - Doubt or disbelief towards something

Eg: It is difficult to state how much education can impact eating habits, hence there is a strong scepticism around this issue.

• In denial - Refusing to accept the reality or truth

Eg: Some people continue to be in denial about junk food's dangers.

• Viable solution - A practical and effective way of solving a problem

Eg: An example of a viable solution to tackle obesity is the promotion of healthy eating in schools.

• Combat - To fight against something adverse

Eg: Obesity is the target of public awareness campaigns that governments are using to combat the issue.

Sample Answer 2 on ‘People Are Damaging Their Health by Eating Too Much Junk Food’

In the wake of deteriorating and appalling health conditions of people today, scientists hold unhealthy food as the prime driving force behind it. Some people conjecture that this problem could be contained with proper education, while others don’t believe that could alleviate the issue alone. In this essay, both aspects will be elucidated and how the latter opinion is somehow correct.

The junk food on the platter has been considerably thriving owing to people’s convenience when it comes to having processed food just a doorstep away. A surge in the junk food market and its consumption, as some people say, is due to the oblivion of the generation and society, at large, today. People are ignorant when it comes to the causative, hazardous and catastrophic dynamics of such unhealthy, pernicious and at times, unhygienic food items that may render them frail, severely ill and deficient in terms of nutrition. Hence, the government should take necessary steps in acknowledging and making people aware of such routine and dietary patterns that in the long run, could even be fatal.

However, education and information alone would not wrap up the wound as people despite knowing the ill effects tend to drag such health sermons at the back seat and hence go by the sporadic sensation of taste. Technology and the modern digital era is most certainly the first and primary cause of it, as now the favourite food is just a “Click & Buy ” away. Along with that, with the upsurge of the digital epoch, the very idea and reflection of it of making the lives easier has indeed, made the lifestyle unhealthier than ever. Sedentary lifestyle, dormant state, frozen feet and barren body are just some of the deleterious physical effects of it, without even getting to the other aspects of it. With a wide plethora of options and alternatives which comes along with the new age, people choose the best ones. In order to keep up with the ever-growing demand and neck-jolting strife, the inculcation of the tastier and hazardous sweet poisons to the food material grows. The more people get away with the gustatory aspect of it, the worse they do with their physiologies. In such a case, education alone can’t tackle the demon of junk food, rather limiting and monitoring the advertisements or even precautions while advertising it should be acknowledged. Increasing the taxes on junk foods could yet again be a great alternative as money matters. 

To conclude, other than education alone there are some different prophylactic measures that could be taken to halt and digress the fast-moving junk food trend, thereby, saving people from the perils of derelict health.

Vocabulary for Sample Answer 2 on ‘People Are Damaging Their Health by Eating Too Much Junk Food’

• Conjecture - To arrive at a conclusion without having all the facts

Eg: Some specialists conjecture that education alone cannot transform people's eating habits.

• Alleviate - To lessen the severity of a problem

Eg: One of the objectives that public health campaigns pursue is to alleviate the issue of obesity, which is on the rise.

• Thriving - Becoming successful and developing rapidly

Eg: The fast-food sector has been thriving owing to the busy lifestyle of modern consumers.

• Oblivion - The state of being unknowing or unconscious about something

Eg: A lot of people live in oblivion about their eating habits' long-term effects on them.

• Pernicious - Gradually doing harm or especially causing harm in the long run

Eg: The junk foods’ pernicious effects are often unnoticed until serious health problems start to develop.

Practicing with health-related topics can help you to gain confidence as they improve skills to structure the essay while keeping the academic tone. Put emphasis on rephrasing the questions, topic sentences, and justifying arguments with examples. With gradual practice sessions, you will develop the skills to think, plan, and write within the 40 minute time limit for the IELTS Exam and get a score of 8+.

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