IELTS Writing Task 2 – Band 8.0 Sample

Childhood obesity has reached alarming levels in many parts of the world. This essay will explain the main reasons behind this trend and suggest what parents and schools can do to reverse it.

The first cause is a dramatic change in children's diets. Processed food and sugary drinks are cheap, widely available and heavily marketed to young people, while busy parents increasingly rely on ready meals and takeaways. For example, a single bottle of soft drink can contain more sugar than a child should consume in an entire day.

The second cause is a sedentary lifestyle. Many children now spend hours glued to screens, playing video games or watching videos instead of playing outdoors. In addition, concerns about road safety mean that fewer children walk or cycle to school, and academic pressure has led some schools to cut back on physical education lessons.

Parents and schools both have a crucial role to play in solving this problem. At home, parents should set a good example by cooking healthy meals, limiting screen time and doing physical activities with their children at weekends. Schools, meanwhile, could replace unhealthy snacks in canteens with fruit and balanced meals, and guarantee at least one hour of exercise every day. For instance, schools in Japan serve nutritious lunches and teach pupils about food, which helps to explain the country's low rate of childhood obesity. Lessons on nutrition would also help children make informed choices for themselves.

In conclusion, rising obesity among children is largely the result of poor diets and inactive lifestyles. If parents and schools work together to promote healthy eating and regular exercise, this worrying trend can be brought under control.