Scorify.uzThe question
In some countries, the average weight of people is increasing and their level of health and fitness is decreasing. What do you think are the causes of these problems and what measures could be taken to solve them?
Write at least 250 words.
What the question asks
Answer two questions directly: causes, and measures. Dedicate one body paragraph to each and give specific causes and realistic measures.
Essay plan
- Introduction: Paraphrase and state that unhealthy diets and inactive lifestyles are the main causes.
- Body 1: causes: Cheap processed food, sedentary jobs and screen-based leisure.
- Body 2: measures: Education about nutrition, taxes on sugary products, and better sports facilities and PE in schools.
- Conclusion: Summarise that the problem needs cooperation between government, schools and families.
Band 7+ sample essay
In a growing number of countries, people are gaining weight and becoming less fit. This trend is mainly caused by changes in diet and lifestyle, and it can be addressed through education and sensible government policy.
One major cause is the availability of cheap, processed food. Fast food and sugary drinks are heavily advertised and often cost less than fresh vegetables, so families on low incomes may buy them regularly. At the same time, modern lifestyles are increasingly sedentary. Many people sit at desks all day, travel by car rather than on foot and spend their free time watching screens instead of playing sport. Together, these habits mean that people consume more calories than they burn.
Several measures could help. Firstly, schools should teach children about nutrition and cooking, so they learn to make healthy choices from an early age. Secondly, governments could impose taxes on sugary products and use the revenue to subsidise fruit and vegetables, making healthy food more affordable. Thirdly, building parks, cycle lanes and public sports facilities would encourage physical activity, and compulsory physical education in schools would help children form lifelong habits. Clear food labelling would also help, because shoppers who can quickly see how much sugar, salt and fat a product contains are more likely to choose healthier alternatives, especially when the information is simple and displayed on the front of the packet.
Employers can also contribute by offering gym memberships or active breaks, since adults spend so much time at work.
In conclusion, poor diets and inactivity are the main reasons for declining fitness, and a combination of education, fair pricing and better facilities could reverse the trend.
275 words.
Why this essay scores well
- Task Response: every part of the question is answered and the position stays consistent from the introduction to the conclusion.
- Coherence and Cohesion: each paragraph has one clear idea, linked with natural connectors rather than a list of memorised phrases.
- Lexical Resource: topic vocabulary is precise and varied, without forcing rare words.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with conditionals and relative clauses used accurately.
Useful vocabulary
- processed food — food changed by factory methods
- sedentary — involving a lot of sitting
- subsidise — reduce price with public money
- impose a tax — introduce a required payment
- calorie intake — the energy you take in from food
- lifelong habits — behaviours kept for life
- affordable — not too expensive
Common mistakes on this question
- Answering only the causes or only the solutions.
- Writing about obesity as a personal failure instead of examining social factors.
- Using “fatty people”; use neutral language such as “people who are overweight”.
Study guides
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Frequently asked questions
What type of essay is this IELTS Task 2 question?
It is a two-part question question. Answer two questions directly: causes, and measures. Dedicate one body paragraph to each and give specific causes and realistic measures.
How many words should the essay be?
Write at least 250 words. Most strong answers are 260–290 words, planned in about five minutes and completed in 40 minutes.
How many paragraphs should I write?
Four paragraphs work well: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph needs one main idea, an explanation and an example.