Childhood obesity has become a pressing issue in many countries, raising questions about parental responsibility. This topic has appeared in various forms in past IELTS exams and is likely to continue being relevant in future tests. Let’s examine a specific question related to this theme that has been featured in recent IELTS Writing Task 2 prompts:
Some people think that parents should be held legally responsible for their children’s acts. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
Analyzing the Question
This question asks for your opinion on whether parents should be legally accountable for their children’s actions. It’s important to note that while the prompt doesn’t specifically mention obesity, we can adapt our response to address this health issue as one of the “acts” for which parents might be held responsible.
Key points to consider:
- The extent of parental influence on children’s behavior
- The role of personal responsibility vs. parental control
- Legal implications of holding parents accountable
- Potential consequences of such a policy
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children’s behavior and lifestyle choices, including those related to diet and exercise. However, I disagree with the notion that they should be held legally responsible for their children’s acts, particularly in the context of obesity.
Firstly, while parents undoubtedly influence their children’s eating habits and activity levels, they are not the sole determinants of a child’s weight. Genetic factors, school environments, peer influences, and the broader food industry all contribute significantly to childhood obesity rates. Holding parents legally accountable oversimplifies a complex issue and fails to address these systemic factors.
Moreover, as children grow older, they gradually develop autonomy and make independent choices. It would be unjust to penalize parents for decisions that are increasingly outside their control. For instance, a teenager may choose to consume unhealthy snacks with friends or avoid physical activities despite parental guidance. Legal responsibility in such cases could strain family relationships and potentially criminalize parents unfairly.
Instead of legal measures, a more effective approach would be to implement comprehensive educational programs and supportive policies. These could include improved nutritional education in schools, community-based fitness initiatives, and regulations on food marketing to children. Such strategies would empower both parents and children to make healthier choices without resorting to punitive measures.
In conclusion, while parents have a significant role in influencing their children’s health, legal responsibility for childhood obesity is an overly simplistic and potentially harmful solution. A more nuanced, supportive approach that addresses the multiple factors contributing to this issue would be far more effective and just.
(Word count: 275)
Parent and child discussing healthy food choices
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
The question of whether parents should be legally responsible for their children’s acts, including health issues like obesity, is a complex one. While I believe parents have a big role in their children’s lives, I don’t think they should be legally responsible for everything their children do.
On one hand, parents do have a lot of influence over their children’s habits, especially when it comes to food and exercise. They buy the groceries, cook meals, and can encourage their kids to be active. If a child becomes obese, it might seem like the parents didn’t do enough to prevent it.
However, there are many other factors that affect a child’s weight that parents can’t always control. For example, genes can play a big part in someone’s tendency to gain weight. Also, kids spend a lot of time at school where they might eat unhealthy cafeteria food or not get enough physical education. Advertising for junk food is everywhere, making it hard for parents to compete with these influences.
Moreover, as children get older, they start making more of their own choices. A teenager might choose to eat fast food with friends or skip sports practice, even if their parents tell them not to. It wouldn’t be fair to punish parents for these decisions.
Instead of making laws against parents, I think it would be better to provide more support and education. Schools could teach more about healthy eating, and communities could create safe places for kids to play and exercise. This way, everyone works together to help children be healthier.
In conclusion, while parents are important in shaping their children’s habits, I don’t agree that they should be legally responsible for issues like childhood obesity. There are too many other factors involved, and it’s better to focus on education and support rather than punishment.
(Word count: 298)
Sample Essay 3 (Band 5-6)
The topic of parents being responsible for their children’s acts, like obesity, is very difficult. I think parents are important but should not be legally responsible for everything their kids do.
Parents do many things that affect their children’s health. They choose what food to buy and cook at home. They can tell their kids to play outside instead of watching TV. So some people might think parents should be blamed if their child becomes very overweight.
But there are other things that make children gain weight too. Sometimes it’s because of their body type, which comes from their genes. Schools often don’t have good food choices or enough time for sports. Also, there are many ads for unhealthy snacks that kids see every day.
As children grow up, they start to make their own choices. A teenager might buy chips and soda after school even if their parents told them not to. It’s not fair to punish parents for what their older children decide to do.
I think a better way to help is to teach everyone about healthy living. Schools should have classes about good food and exercise. Towns should build more parks where families can play together. This way, parents get help in keeping their children healthy.
To finish, I don’t agree that parents should be legally responsible for their children’s obesity. There are many reasons why children might gain too much weight, and it’s not always the parents’ fault. It’s better to help families learn about health than to make laws against parents.
(Word count: 254)
Explanation of Band Scores
Band 8-9 Essay
This essay demonstrates:
- Clear position with fully developed ideas
- Logical structure with each paragraph focusing on a specific point
- Sophisticated vocabulary (e.g., “autonomy,” “criminalize,” “comprehensive”)
- Variety of complex sentences
- Relevant examples and explanations
- Coherent arguments throughout
Band 6-7 Essay
This essay shows:
- Clear overall position
- Logical structure, though less sophisticated than the Band 8-9 essay
- Good vocabulary with some less precise word choices
- Mix of simple and complex sentences
- Relevant ideas, though less fully developed
- Some repetition of ideas
Band 5-6 Essay
This essay exhibits:
- Basic position statement
- Simple structure with some logical progression
- Limited vocabulary range with some errors
- Mostly simple sentences with a few attempts at complexity
- Basic ideas related to the topic, but less depth
- Some irrelevance and repetition
IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Score Comparison
Key Vocabulary to Remember
- Accountable (adjective) /əˈkaʊntəbl/ – responsible for one’s actions and able to explain them
- Autonomy (noun) /ɔːˈtɒnəmi/ – the right or condition of self-government
- Comprehensive (adjective) /ˌkɒmprɪˈhensɪv/ – including or dealing with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something
- Criminalize (verb) /ˈkrɪmɪnəlaɪz/ – make (an activity) illegal
- Empower (verb) /ɪmˈpaʊə(r)/ – give (someone) the authority or power to do something
- Genetics (noun) /dʒəˈnetɪks/ – the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics
- Nuanced (adjective) /ˈnjuːɑːnst/ – characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression
- Penalize (verb) /ˈpiːnəlaɪz/ – subject to a penalty or punishment
- Punitive (adjective) /ˈpjuːnətɪv/ – inflicting or intended as punishment
- Systemic (adjective) /sɪˈstemɪk/ – relating to a system, especially as opposed to a particular part
Conclusion
The topic of parental responsibility for children’s obesity is a complex and nuanced issue that requires careful consideration. As demonstrated in the sample essays, there are various perspectives and arguments to explore. When approaching similar topics in IELTS Writing Task 2, remember to:
- Clearly state your position
- Provide well-developed reasons and examples
- Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures
- Organize your ideas logically
- Address different aspects of the issue
For further practice, consider writing an essay on the following related topics:
- Should governments introduce taxes on unhealthy foods to combat childhood obesity?
- To what extent should schools be responsible for educating children about healthy lifestyles?
- Discuss the impact of food advertising on children’s eating habits and whether it should be regulated.
We encourage you to write your own essay on one of these topics or the original question and share it in the comments section below. This practice will help you improve your writing skills and prepare for the IELTS exam.