In many countries, children are becoming overweight and unhealthy. Some people think that the government is responsible for solving this problem.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. In many countries, children are becoming overweight and unhealthy. Some people think that the government is responsible for solving this problem.

Children are becoming overweight and unhealthy government is responsible for solving this problem - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 8.5 · 335 words.

The question of whether governments should be responsible for addressing childhood obesity has become a widely debated issue. Some people claim that in many nations, young people suffer from health problems such as obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle. I totally agree with this argument and believe that governments should provide cycling infrastructure and establish sports classes as practical solutions to this problem.

Perhaps the most effective approach to reducing childhood obesity is to encourage children to use bicycles as a form of daily transport. When children take a taxi or travel by car to get from point A to point B, they do not have enough physical activity, which can lead to a sedentary lifestyle. As a result, they may suffer from health problems such as obesity, depression, and hypertension. This can be seen in the Netherlands, where cycling is strongly encouraged through separate bike lanes in many cities. For example, cities such as Amsterdam are well known for their cycling culture, and this helps people remain more active in their daily lives. Therefore, I believe that encouraging cycling is one effective way for governments to tackle childhood obesity.

In addition, I firmly believe that establishing sports classes is another effective way to deal with a sedentary lifestyle and reduce children’s dependence on electronic devices. Since many children spend a large amount of time using technology such as computers or tablets, they often become less physically active. If governments support sports programmes at schools, children will have more opportunities to exercise and develop healthy habits. A good example of this would be sports such as football or basketball, which can improve children’s physical health and keep them away from spending too much time scrolling through social media. Thus, establishing sports classes can help children live a healthier lifestyle.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that governments should take responsibility for reducing childhood obesity. By promoting cycling as a daily means of transport and introducing sports classes, they can encourage children to become more active and healthier.

Examiner feedback

This is an exceptionally strong essay that clearly communicates a well-supported argument. The logical flow and grammatical precision are standout features, placing the response firmly in the high-band category. The focus on specific government actions like infrastructure and education directly addresses the prompt's core question of responsibility.

Task Response - 8

- The candidate presents a clear position throughout the response, explicitly agreeing that the government is responsible. - Ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of Amsterdam’s cycling culture. - While the response is strong, it could be further extended by briefly acknowledging why government action is superior to individual responsibility alone.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- Paragraphing is logically structured with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. - Transition signals like 'As a result', 'In addition', and 'Thus' are used naturally to link ideas. - Each paragraph maintains a clear central topic, with seamless progression from the problem to the specific government solution.

Lexical Resource - 8

- Uses a wide range of academic and topic-specific vocabulary such as 'sedentary lifestyle', 'hypertension', and 'cycling infrastructure'. - Collocations are mostly natural and precise ('addressing childhood obesity', 'tackle childhood obesity'). - Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- Demonstrates a wide range of structures with high accuracy, such as conditional sentences ('If governments support...') and relative clauses ('which can improve...'). - The majority of sentences are error-free, showing full control over punctuation and grammar. - Complexity is achieved without sacrificing clarity, which is characteristic of high-band performance.

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