IELTS Writing Task 2: Overweight children

In many parts of the world, the proportion of children who are overweight has risen sharply over the past few decades. This is worrying because it increases the risk of serious illness in later life. This essay will consider why the problem has grown and what can be done about it.

The first cause is a change in diet. Food that is high in sugar and fat, such as sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks, is cheap, widely advertised and available everywhere. Because many parents work long hours, families often rely on ready meals and takeaways instead of cooking with fresh ingredients. The second cause is that children are far less active than previous generations. They are driven to school instead of walking, and they spend their free time in front of screens when earlier generations would have played outside. In some cities there are simply few safe places to play.

Tackling the problem requires action at several levels. Schools have an important role: they can serve healthy lunches, remove sweet drinks from their buildings and make sure that every pupil has physical activity each day. Lessons in basic cooking would also give young people a skill for life. Governments could support this by limiting the advertising of unhealthy food to children and by taxing sugary drinks, using the income to build parks and sports facilities.

Parents, however, have the greatest influence. Children copy what they see at home, so families who eat together, limit screen time and go out walking or cycling at weekends set a pattern that lasts. Public information campaigns can help parents understand how much sugar common products contain.

In conclusion, childhood obesity is mainly caused by unhealthy food and inactive lifestyles. It can be reduced if schools, governments and parents work together to make healthy choices easier and more attractive.