Obesity is a Major Disease Prevalent among Children – IELTS Writing Task 2

According to the updated sequence for the IELTS exam, the Writing Module is the first to be conducted. As it is important to begin the exam on the right foot, it is necessary to master your writing skills by practising essay topics, like Obesity is a Major Disease Prevalent among Children.

The IELTS essay topic- Obesity is a Major Disease Prevalent among Children – is a Direct Question Essay. Usually, Direct Question essays have two questions and are also called Two Part Question essays. Once deciphered, you need to make sure to answer the given question with clarity and support your ideas with appropriate examples. If you want to practise similar essays, have a look at the Writing Task 2 practice tests.

Since most IELTS aspirants consider IELTS Writing to be challenging and we don’t want you to feel the pressure of this task, we have provided expert-curated Band 7, 8 & 9 sample answers for you.

For more information on Double Question Essay or Two Part Question Essay, check out this video!

Let’s have a look at the IELTS Two Part Question or Direct Question Essay – Obesity is a Major Disease Prevalent among Children.

Question

Outline

Band 7 Sample Answer

In earlier days, obesity was considered to be an adult disease. However, in recent times, factors like changes in lifestyle and food habits have made this health issue typical among children. This essay will further explain the causes and solutions of this trend, as per my opinion.

One key cause of childhood obesity is the inactive lifestyle prevalent in the modern era. With the increased use of electronic devices, children spend longer on screen-based activities, reducing their physical activity levels. Additionally, the availability of high-calorie, processed foods has increased, contributing to unhealthy eating habits. Both these causes can be solved with proper guidance. Guardians and the government should make it compulsory to include physical activities, like outdoor activities, in daily routines, and the screen time should be limited. Moreover, children should be given home-cooked food except for special occasions.

In my opinion, an all-rounding approach is important to fight this rapidly growing health crisis. Firstly, educational initiatives encouraging healthy lifestyle choices should be integrated into the school curriculum. For example, programs like Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) and School Health Component of Ayushman Bharat, initiated by the Indian government, aim to educate children about regular exercise and a balanced diet. In addition, children should be encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities that will restrict their involvement with computer games and television.

In conclusion, childhood obesity is caused due to lifestyle and diet differences. By implementing thorough education and directions from elders, society can work towards controlling this trend and enabling a healthier future for the younger generation. (255 words)

Vocabulary 

• Typical (Adjective)

Meaning: showing the characteristics of a particular kind of person or thing

E.g.: It is typical of Mrs. Robinson to be so angry at her children.

• Trend (Noun)

Meaning: change or development towards something new or different

E.g.: Posting reels on social media is an ongoing trend.

• Inactive (Adjective)

Meaning: not active or moving

E.g.: Seeing a player like him in such an inactive state was quite shocking.

• Screen-based (Adjective)

Meaning: related to using a computer or a TV screen

E.g.: Do not let your kids get used to screen-based activities.

• Processed (Adjective)

Meaning: treated or prepared by a special method, esp in order to preserve it

E.g.: Our school does not use processed food in the canteen.

• All-rounding (Adjective)

Meaning: dealing with a lot of different skills, academic subjects, or sports

E.g.: The teachers were happy to see the all-rounding development of the new student.

• Crisis (Noun)

Meaning: an extremely difficult or dangerous point in a situation

E.g.: In such a crisis, he was the only help I got.

• Initiatives (Noun)

Meaning: a new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem

E.g.: Many initiatives are being taken to reduce the effects of climate change.

• Curriculum (Noun)

Meaning: the subjects studied in a school, college, etc. and what each subject includes

E.g.: The committee decided to include activity-based learning in the school curriculum.

• Extracurricular (Adjective)

Meaning: outside the regular curriculum or program of courses

E.g.: Shannon is known for her performance in extracurricular activities.

Band 8 Sample Answer

The occurrence of obesity, which was considered a health crisis for adults in the past, has become a prevalent health crisis in children. From my standpoint, this shift is due to various factors like food choices and lack of activity. Therefore, the following paragraphs will discuss these causes, enabling us to develop solutions to prevent childhood obesity.

First and foremost, the consumption of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, often rich in sugars and fats, like processed foods, sugary beverages like Coke, and fast food, plays a significant role in childhood obesity. Furthermore, reductions in physical education programs in schools, either due to budget constraints or curriculum changes, limit opportunities for children to engage in regular physical activity. The lack of physical activity to maintain a healthy body and mind is further threatened by limited access to parks, sidewalks, and recreational facilities, which prevent children from engaging in active play. Consequently, the active participation of parents and the government can handle these factors by preventing the advertising of unhealthy food choices and motivating children to take part in outdoor activities.

In my view, the first step to controlling obesity and its related diseases is to reduce the consumption of fast foods and provide only home-cooked meals. Moreover, governments should stop cutting down on the number of playgrounds and parks. It will allow children to participate in active outdoor sports and maintain a healthy lifestyle instead of playing video games. Above all, children should be conscious of their food choices and the effects of an unenergetic lifestyle through initiatives like calorie labeling of products in the U.K. and publishing papers like “Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives”.

In the end, it can be concluded that addressing childhood obesity requires a comprehensive approach that includes changes in dietary patterns, increased physical activity and education on nutrition to create environments favorable to healthy living.

Vocabulary 

• Occurrence (Noun)

Meaning: something that happens

E.g.: Being late to work has become a common occurrence due to the heavy traffic.

• Prevalent (Adjective)

Meaning: existing very commonly or happening often

E.g.: Being dependent on fast food is becoming prevalent among working parents.

• Constraints (Noun)

Meaning: something that limits or controls what you can do

E.g.: You should complete your homework within the time constraints.

• Sidewalks (Noun)

Meaning: a path with a hard surface on one or both sides of a road, that people walk on

E.g.: Our housing society decided to build new sidewalks for the elders and children.

• Recreational (Adjective)

Meaning: connected with ways of enjoying yourself when you are not working

E.g.: The doctor advised him to take part in recreational activities to reduce stress.

• Reduce (Verb)

Meaning: to become or to make something become smaller in size, amount, degree, importance, etc.

E.g.: The customers asked the shopkeeper to reduce the price of the goods.

• Cutting down (Phrasal verb)

Meaning: to reduce; lessen

E.g.: The company is cutting down on the salary of its employees due to the recession.

• Unenergetic (Adjective)

Meaning: without energy

E.g.: Robin seemed to have become unenergetic after the accident.

• Empowering (Verb – Gerund)

Meaning: to give official authority or legal power to

E.g.: Steps are being taken for empowering employees to maintain their work-life balance.

• Comprehensive (Adjective)

Meaning: complete and including everything that is necessary

E.g.: The report on the new development in the company is quite comprehensive and helped us to understand the problem.

Band 9 Sample Answer

Childhood obesity has become a serious health issue in the modern world, extending beyond the conventional definition of adult diseases. This alarming trend can be attributed to several interrelated factors that demand urgent attention. I shall expand on these factors and their solutions in the upcoming paragraphs and present my view.

To begin with, modern technology has led to declining physical activity among children. As a result, a surge in screen time and insufficient physical activity has led to weight gain and obesity. For instance, a recent study by the World Health Organization revealed that children spending more than two hours daily on electronic devices were twice as likely to be overweight compared to their more active counterparts. Simultaneously, lack of a balanced diet resulting in less-than-ideal food choices, coupled with the child’s genetic makeup, may play a role in their tendency to obesity. However, genetic factors alone do not explain the significant increase in childhood obesity, suggesting that lifestyle factors play a crucial role. Accordingly, governments, parents and the community should hinder the above trends to curb the increase in childhood obesity.

As far as I am concerned, parents play a pivotal role in shaping a child’s dietary habits and lifestyle. So, they should provide nutritious food in a presentable way so that children are not attracted to fast food. Next, educational campaigns, “Eat right”, must be reinforced in schools and communities, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet and regular exercise. Lastly, governmental bodies, like the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, should implement policies regulating children’s food advertising and promoting affordable, wholesome options.

On the whole, childhood obesity is a complicated problem with bad eating habits and passive lives at its core. Future generations’ health can be protected, and society can halt this worrying trend by combining community-based, legislative, and educational measures.

Vocabulary 

• Conventional (Adjective)

Meaning: traditional and ordinary

E.g.: Society follows conventional thoughts when it comes to women.

• Interrelated (Adjective)

Meaning: connected in such a way that each thing has an effect on the others

E.g.: It is easy to solve the issue if we understand the interrelated reasons.

• Surge (Noun)

Meaning: a sudden and great increase

E.g.: There was a surge in the price of rice as crops failed due to lack of rains.

• Counterparts (Noun)

Meaning: a person or thing that has the same position or purpose as another person or thing in a different place or organization

E.g.: Unfortunately, my counterpart at the competition was smarter than me.

• Genetic (Adjective)

Meaning: belonging or relating to genes

E.g.: Do not blame everything on genetic build; you do not have a proper diet.

• Hinder (Verb)

Meaning: to limit the ability of someone to do something

E.g.: Our trek to the mountains was hindered due to the snowfall.

• Curb (Verb)

Meaning: to control or limit something in order to prevent it from having a harmful effect measures

E.g.: Priya curbed her sugar consumption to check her weight.

• Reinforced (Verb)

Meaning: to strengthen by additional assistance, material, or support

E.g.: The school reinforced the importance of exercise through the new program.

• Passive (Adjective)

Meaning: not acting to influence or change a situation

E.g.: Nobody likes a passive person who is not willing to act or take any responsibility.

• Legislative (Adjective)

Meaning: relating to laws and the process of making laws

E.g.: Changes in the legislative power of the government will lead to better governance.

Connectors from the Sample Answers You can Use to Gain Good Scores in IELTS Writing Task 2

Check out the list of connectors used in the above-given sample answers that will help you add coherence to your writing and earn points for your IELTS Writing Task 2.

• However
• Additionally
• Moreover
• In my opinion
• Firstly
• For example/ For instance
• In addition
• In conclusion
• From my standpoint
• Therefore
• First and foremost
• Furthermore
• Consequently
• In my view
• Above all
• In the end
• To begin with
• As a result
• Simultaneously
• Accordingly
• As far as I am concerned
• Next
• Lastly
• On the whole

Now that you have gone through the sample answers on the topic – Obesity is a Major Disease Prevalent among Children – it is time for you to try writing on your own. For that, leave your answers as a comment below or you can use our FREE evaluation service!

Additional Study Resources

• Free IELTS Online Tests 2023 | Practice IELTS Mock Test Online
• The World’s Natural Resources Are Consumed At An Ever-Increasing Rate-IELTS Writing Task 2 Two Question Essay
• In Many Countries People Are Concerned About The Number Of Children Who Are Overweight – IELTS Writing Task 2
• How to Plan an IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay (Best Strategy)
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic: Children are becoming overweight and unhealthy
• An Increasing Number of Children Are Overweight Which Could Result In Many Problems- IELTS Writing Task 2