The role of parents in childhood obesity prevention is a highly relevant topic for IELTS Writing Task 2. This theme has appeared in past exams and is likely to continue being a popular subject due to its global significance. Based on our analysis of previous IELTS questions, we’ve identified a related prompt that closely aligns with this topic:
Some people believe that parents should be held legally responsible for their children’s obesity. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Analyzing the Question
This question asks for your opinion on whether parents should be legally accountable for their children’s obesity. Key points to consider:
- The main focus is on parental responsibility.
- The legal aspect adds complexity to the issue.
- You need to clearly state your level of agreement or disagreement.
- Provide reasons and examples to support your stance.
Sample Essays
Band 8-9 Essay
Childhood obesity is a growing concern worldwide, and the question of parental responsibility is at the forefront of this issue. While I acknowledge the crucial role parents play in shaping their children’s eating habits and lifestyle, I disagree with the notion that they should be held legally responsible for their children’s obesity.
Firstly, obesity is a complex issue influenced by various factors beyond parental control. Genetic predisposition, socioeconomic conditions, and the food environment all contribute significantly to a child’s weight. For instance, families living in food deserts may have limited access to fresh, nutritious food options, making it challenging to maintain a healthy diet regardless of parental efforts.
Moreover, holding parents legally accountable could lead to unintended negative consequences. It may stigmatize families struggling with obesity, discourage them from seeking help, and potentially create a blame culture that overlooks the systemic issues contributing to the obesity epidemic. Instead of punitive measures, a more effective approach would be to provide support and education to families.
However, it is undeniable that parents have a significant influence on their children’s dietary habits and physical activity levels. They are responsible for providing nutritious meals, limiting unhealthy food consumption, and encouraging an active lifestyle. While legal responsibility may be extreme, there should be a greater emphasis on parental education and support programs to equip parents with the knowledge and resources needed to promote healthy habits in their children.
In conclusion, while parents play a crucial role in preventing childhood obesity, legal accountability is not the solution. A more holistic approach that addresses societal factors, provides education, and offers support to families would be more effective in tackling this complex issue. (275 words)
Parents' role in childhood obesity prevention
Band 6-7 Essay
The issue of childhood obesity is becoming more serious in many countries, and some people think parents should be legally responsible for this problem. I partially agree with this idea, but I think there are other factors to consider as well.
On one hand, parents do have a big role in their children’s health and eating habits. They are the ones who buy food, cook meals, and set rules about eating at home. If parents always buy unhealthy snacks and fast food, and don’t encourage their kids to exercise, it can lead to obesity. For example, if parents let their children eat junk food every day and play video games instead of playing outside, the children are more likely to become overweight.
However, I don’t think it’s fair to make parents legally responsible for obesity. There are many other things that can cause a child to be overweight, like genetics, medical conditions, or the influence of friends and advertisements. Also, some parents might not have enough money to buy healthy food or live in areas where it’s hard to find fresh vegetables and fruits.
I think a better solution is to educate parents about healthy eating and give them support. Schools and communities can offer programs to teach families about nutrition and exercise. The government can also help by making healthy food more affordable and available in all areas.
In conclusion, while parents have an important role in preventing childhood obesity, I don’t fully agree that they should be legally responsible. It’s a complex issue that needs support and education rather than punishment. (253 words)
Band 5-6 Essay
Childhood obesity is a big problem today. Some people say parents should be legally responsible for their children being overweight. I think this is partly true but not completely.
Parents are important for children’s health. They buy food and cook for their kids. If parents always give unhealthy food, children can get fat. Also, parents can make children do exercise or not. But I don’t think parents should be punished by law for fat children.
There are other reasons for obesity too. Sometimes it’s because of genes or health problems. Also, TV shows and advertisements make children want to eat bad food. Schools also give unhealthy food sometimes. So it’s not only parents’ fault.
I think instead of making laws, we should help parents learn about good food. We can teach them how to cook healthy meals. The government can make healthy food cheaper. Schools can teach children about eating well too.
In conclusion, parents are important for children’s health, but they shouldn’t be legally responsible for obesity. We should help parents and children learn about healthy living instead. (170 words)
Explaining the Band Scores
Band 8-9 Essay:
- Task Response: Fully addresses all parts of the task with a clear position throughout.
- Coherence and Cohesion: Ideas are logically organized with clear progression. Uses a range of cohesive devices effectively.
- Lexical Resource: Uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy.
Band 6-7 Essay:
- Task Response: Addresses all parts of the task, though some parts may be more fully covered than others.
- Coherence and Cohesion: Information and ideas are arranged coherently and there is a clear overall progression.
- Lexical Resource: Uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. There may be some inaccuracies in word choice.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. There are some errors, but they do not impede communication.
Band 5-6 Essay:
- Task Response: Addresses the task only partially. The format may be inappropriate in places.
- Coherence and Cohesion: Presents information with some organisation but there may be a lack of overall progression.
- Lexical Resource: Uses a limited range of vocabulary, but this is minimally adequate for the task.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Uses only a limited range of structures. Errors may cause some difficulty for the reader.
IELTS Writing Task 2 scoring criteria
Key Vocabulary to Remember
- Obesity (noun) /əʊˈbiːsɪti/ – the state of being very fat or overweight
- Accountability (noun) /əˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/ – the fact or condition of being responsible
- Predisposition (noun) /ˌpriːdɪspəˈzɪʃn/ – a tendency to behave in a particular way or to have a particular characteristic
- Stigmatize (verb) /ˈstɪɡmətaɪz/ – to treat someone or something unfairly by disapproving of them
- Holistic (adjective) /həʊˈlɪstɪk/ – characterized by the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected
- Punitive (adjective) /ˈpjuːnətɪv/ – intended as punishment
- Socioeconomic (adjective) /ˌsəʊsiəʊˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk/ – related to or concerned with the interaction of social and economic factors
- Epidemic (noun) /ˌepɪˈdemɪk/ – a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time
- Nutritious (adjective) /njuːˈtrɪʃəs/ – efficient as food; nourishing
- Genetics (noun) /dʒəˈnetɪks/ – the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics
Conclusion
The role of parents in childhood obesity prevention is a complex and nuanced topic that is likely to appear in future IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. To prepare, practice writing essays on related themes such as:
- The impact of technology on children’s health and fitness
- Government interventions in promoting healthy lifestyles for children
- The role of schools in combating childhood obesity
- The influence of media and advertising on children’s eating habits
Remember to structure your essay clearly, use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, and provide specific examples to support your arguments. Feel free to practice writing an essay on this topic and share it in the comments section for feedback and discussion.