In Some Countries the Average Weight
Written by Lilie
7.5 in Academic Writing
January 3, 2022
In some countries the average weight of people is increasing and their levels of health and fitness are decreasing. What do you think are the causes of these problems and what measures could be taken to solve them?
This essay question is from Cambridge IELTS 8 Test 4 Writing Task 2.
Task Response
Please note that the question uses the plural “these problems”: What are the causes of these problems? There are actually three problems in question:
Gaining weight doesn’t necessarily mean that you become less fit. For example, you do weight training every day, and it’s helping you gain weight and become fitter. However, being physically fit doesn’t mean that you’re healthy. Health is the absence of disease. A fit person can have undetected cancer, in which case he or she is not healthy. Make sure you explain the causes of all three problems in question.
Sample Essay
In some countries, the average weight of people is rising, which, I believe, is because eating healthy is too expensive in these countries. Their health and fitness conditions are also becoming worse. I think this is mainly due to the weight they gain. To solve these problems, governments should place a high tax on junk food and meanwhile make healthy food affordable.
Junk food is much cheaper than healthy food. Fresh fruits and vegetables are more expensive to farm than crops that will be processed because they rely on human labor rather than machines. For example, fresh strawberries have to be picked by hand whereas strawberries destined for preserves can be harvested by a machine since bumps and bruises do not matter in the process, and machines are much cheaper in the long run. This makes many people dependent on cheap, unhealthy food to fill their stomachs. Since it is generally high in calories, they easily gain weight as they eat more of it.
Their weight gain, in turn, has a negative effect on their fitness since what they gain is fat, not muscle. Even worse, once they become overweight, they will be prone to obesity-related health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
To solve these problems, junk food should be heavily taxed. Since low prices are the main reason why many people consume it regularly, a high tax could effectively discourage them from doing so. Healthy food should also be made affordable and governments can help by giving subsidies to farmers whose produce will be sold fresh.
In conclusion, the low price of junk food and the high price of healthy food are the main reasons why in some countries people are becoming heavier. The weight they gain then negatively affects their health and fitness. To address these issues, healthy food should be sold at affordable prices and Junk food should be subjected to high taxes. (318 words)
15 CommentsLeave A Comment
You usually reserve one paragraph for one solution. However, this time you chose to write two solutions in one paragraph. Is that okay?
In some countries, the number of overweight people is rising and their health and fitness levels are worsening. I believe, consuming unhealthy food and remaining stationary are the two major reasons behind this. As a remedy, individuals should place greater focus on monitoring their daily intake and performing physical activities.
Around the world, there are multiple reports about individuals becoming increasingly obese due to their lifestyles. The primary cause is the changing nature of jobs and education, which causes people to sit for extended periods in their offices and classrooms, leading to a diminished level of physical activity. This, in turn, leads to a gradual deterioration of their physical shape. Moreover, many individuals consume fast food and sugary beverages, as their time-restricted schedules do not permit healthy eating. Therefore, obesity results due to the combination of these elements.
In my view, these issues can be easily overcome through individual attention. For instance, if employees allocate time to manage their workload and prioritize their health regimen, they will overcome obesity and enhance their health levels. By acquiring fresh produce and veggies regularly and preparing nutritious foods, and enrolling in a nearby gym near their residence, where they can attend at least three days a week, they can potentially achieve fitness in the near future.
In summary, the issues of obesity and poor physical conditions can be addressed by consuming healthier and homemade foods instead of pre-made or frozen meals. Furthermore, exercising, whether at a gym or in a local park, is another solution for managing these predicaments. This will help individuals to get fit and feel healthier.
Hiiiii,,, please tell me, if I give two reason like, lack of exercise and eating outside like (fast food) and give solution, outdoor activities and maintaining balanced diet.
Is it correct reason and solution for this task ?
It’s hard to tell without reading your essay. I think that as long as you’ve addressed all parts of the question (weight, health and fitness), you’ll be fine.
Ma’am,
Is it problem and solution type essay?
Causes and solutions.
Mam, as you said, three are three problems mentioned in this question. Does that mean I have to write three causes and three solutions for these three problems?
Yes, you need to write three causes. My second paragraph is about the cause of weight gain and my third paragraph is about the cause of a decrease in fitness and the cause of a decrease in health. However, you don’t need to write three solutions because one solution may be able to solve all three problems. That said, you do need to provide more than one solution because the question uses the plural “measures”.
Actually, I can not understand the last sentence. So you provided two solutions, “place a high tax on junk food ” and “make healthy food affordable”. However, as you mentioned, ” one solution may be able to solve three problems”. And the last sentence suggested that you would do need to provide more solutions because of the “measures”. I feel confused about it.
Hiiii,in the question it said what are the (causes ) i think mentioning just one cause is wrong ,isn’t it?
Hi, thanks for your question. Yes but I do provide two reasons. Note that the question says the causes of THESE problems. The second paragraph is about the reason why the average weight of people is increasing. The third paragraph is about the reason why their levels of health and fitness are decreasing. Hope this helps.
Hi Lilie, I liked the analysis of the question! Missed that completely because I only focused on one aspect and elaborated on just that!!
I made that mistake in the first place too.
All the essays are u given to ur website, which mean everything are band 7?
Hi, essays on this site were all improved by native speakers so they are far better than what I wrote on actual exams. I think they deserve at least an 8.