Rates of obesity among children have risen sharply in many countries.
A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan, ideas you can use, and the vocabulary that fits this topic.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Rates of obesity among children have risen sharply in many countries.
What problems result from this, and how can these problems be solved?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
How to read this question
Two things lift this above the average answer. First, the problems should include the ones that are not medical — childhood obesity tracks into adulthood and carries a social cost that affects schooling. Second, the honest observation is that the environment changed rather than children's willpower, which means solutions aimed at educating families have a poor record while ones that change defaults have a good one.
Paragraph plan
Introduction — Paraphrase, then signpost: the problems are lifelong health trajectories and immediate social harm; the solutions must change defaults rather than inform choices.
Body 1 — Problems — early onset of conditions that used to appear in middle age, and the fact that obesity in childhood persists into adult life.
Body 2 — Solutions — reformulation through pricing, restrictions on marketing to children, and building activity back into the ordinary day.
Conclusion — The cause is environmental, so the effective responses change the environment rather than instruct families.
Model essay
Band 8.5–9.0 model essay
332 words
Childhood obesity rates have surged considerably across numerous nations in recent years. However, several practical steps could be undertaken to reverse this trend.
The most serious consequence of rising obesity among children is the heightened risk of chronic illnesses that traditionally affected only adults. To clarify, overweight children are increasingly diagnosed with conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension at a young age, placing considerable strain on healthcare systems that must now treat these diseases across a far younger population than in previous decades. Beyond physical health, childhood obesity frequently gives rise to psychological difficulties, as overweight children are more susceptible to bullying and social exclusion, which can damage their self-esteem and contribute to anxiety or depression that persists into adulthood, affecting their careers and relationships. Left unaddressed, this dual burden of physical and mental health problems can follow individuals well into their adult years, reducing their long-term productivity and quality of life.
To address this problem, schools should be required to limit the availability of sugary snacks and beverages on their premises while expanding compulsory physical education. For instance, replacing vending machines that sell soft drinks with healthier alternatives, such as water and fruit, could meaningfully reduce children's daily sugar intake. Additionally, governments could impose taxes on heavily processed and sugary foods, thereby discouraging their consumption while generating revenue that could fund public health campaigns targeting families directly. Parents also bear responsibility and should be provided with accessible nutritional education, enabling them to prepare balanced meals rather than relying on convenient but unhealthy processed food. Local authorities could further support this effort by ensuring that affordable fresh produce is available in every neighbourhood, including areas currently underserved by supermarkets. Community sports programmes, run outside school hours, could offer further opportunities for children to remain physically active.
In conclusion, escalating childhood obesity poses serious risks to both physical and psychological wellbeing, yet stricter school food policies, taxation of unhealthy products and improved parental education could collectively help reverse this troubling trend.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to read the rest of this essay and unlock every model on the site.
This is a problem and solution question. The essay above shows you what a strong answer looks like when it is finished. What it cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in forty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the essay is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Introduction: Introduction — paraphrase that childhood obesity rates have risen sharply, and note that practical steps could reverse the trend.
Body 1: Body 1 — explain the problems: obese children face early chronic illness such as type 2 diabetes, and also suffer psychological harm from bullying and social exclusion that can persist into adulthood.
Body 2: Body 2 — explain the solutions: schools should limit sugary snacks and expand physical education, governments should tax unhealthy processed food, and parents should receive nutritional education to prepare balanced meals.
Conclusion: Conclusion — briefly summarise that childhood obesity threatens physical and psychological wellbeing, but school policy, taxation and parental education could help reverse it.
Word or phrase
Meaning
Used in a sentence
chronic illnesses
long-lasting health conditions that require ongoing management
the heightened risk of chronic illnesses that traditionally affected only adults.
type 2 diabetes
a chronic condition involving high blood sugar, often linked to weight
overweight children are increasingly diagnosed with conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension at a young age.
social exclusion
being left out of social groups or activities by others
overweight children are more susceptible to bullying and social exclusion.
self-esteem
a person's sense of their own worth
which can damage their self-esteem and contribute to anxiety or depression that persists into adulthood.
compulsory physical education
mandatory exercise classes as part of the school curriculum
schools should be required to limit the availability of sugary snacks... while expanding compulsory physical education.
sugar intake
the amount of sugar a person consumes
could meaningfully reduce children's daily sugar intake.
processed food
food that has been industrially manufactured, often high in sugar or fat
enabling them to prepare balanced meals rather than relying on convenient but unhealthy processed food.
nutritional education
teaching people about healthy eating
parents also bear responsibility and should be provided with accessible nutritional education.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to see the ideas and vocabulary for this topic and unlock every model on the site.
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Common questions
How do I show that a solution actually works?
Explain the mechanism rather than the intention. "A sugar levy makes manufacturers reformulate, so the whole market's sugar content falls without anyone changing their choice" tells the examiner why it works. Naming a policy without a mechanism is Band 6 territory.
Should I mention that education campaigns have failed?
It is a strong move, because it shows evaluation rather than listing — but only if you propose something that does work. Criticism alone leaves the second half of the task unanswered.
Is it worth mentioning that poorer families are affected more?
Yes. Noting that a problem is unequally distributed adds a dimension most answers miss and makes your solutions more targeted. Keep it to a clause or two so it supports the argument rather than becoming a separate topic.
