IELTS Task 2 model essay: More and more people are overweight

The question

More and more people are overweight. What are the causes, and what are the solutions?

Essay type: Problem and solution (causes). Write at least 250 words in 40 minutes.

The plan (5 minutes)

• Paragraph 1: In many countries, the proportion of adults and children who are overweight has risen sharply in recent decades.
• Paragraph 2: The first major cause is diet.
• Paragraph 3: There are several ways to address this problem.
• Paragraph 4: In conclusion, rising rates of obesity are mainly caused by unhealthy diets and inactive lifestyles.

Model essay (252 words)

In many countries, the proportion of adults and children who are overweight has risen sharply in recent decades. This essay will examine the main causes of this trend and propose some possible solutions.

The first major cause is diet. Processed foods and sugary drinks are cheap, widely available and heavily advertised, while fresh food can be more expensive and takes longer to prepare. Busy working lives mean that many families rely on takeaway meals, which are often high in fat, salt and sugar. The second cause is a decline in physical activity. Many jobs now involve sitting at a desk all day, people drive rather than walk, and leisure time is increasingly spent in front of screens.

There are several ways to address this problem. Firstly, governments can make healthy choices easier. Taxes on sugary drinks, as introduced in some countries, have been shown to reduce consumption, and the revenue can be used to make fresh fruit and vegetables more affordable. Clearer food labelling would also help consumers understand what they are eating. Secondly, cities can be designed to encourage activity, with safe cycle lanes, footpaths and parks. Finally, education is essential. Schools should teach children how to cook simple, healthy meals and ensure they have daily physical activity, so that good habits are formed early.

In conclusion, rising rates of obesity are mainly caused by unhealthy diets and inactive lifestyles. A combination of government policy, better urban design and education at school would help reverse this trend and improve public health.

Why it's a band 7+ answer

• Task Response: every part of the question is answered, with a clear position from the introduction to the conclusion.
• Coherence and Cohesion: 4 paragraphs, each with one main idea, linked naturally (however, moreover, in my view, in conclusion).
• Lexical Resource: precise topic vocabulary and collocations, without forced "big words".
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with very few errors.

Your turn

Write your own answer to this question in 40 minutes, then paste it into the free IELTS writing checker for an estimated band on all four criteria. For more practice questions, see the 60 IELTS Task 2 questions.