IELTS - Integrated Skills

Childhood Obesity

CAUSES, EFFECTS, SOLUTIONS

The problem of childhood obesity comes up quite regularly in the IELTS test.

Before the test, try to prepare some ideas.

Think about:

• CAUSES

• EFFECTS

• SOLUTIONS

See if you can think of THREE ideas for each of the above.

Now continue for some reading, speaking and writing tasks...

 

READING

Now read the following articles. Don't worry if you don't understand every word. Just try to read to get the gist (general idea).

As you read, add more ideas to your list of CAUSES , EFFECTS and SOLUTIONS.

READING ONE:

SCHOOL MEALS

(NOTE: The "academies" and "free" schools mentioned in the article are independent schools which do not have to follow the same rules as government schools. Government schools in the UK have to provide children with healthy food.)

READING TWO:

JAIMIE OLIVER : JUNK FOOD NEAR SCHOOLS

(NOTE: Jamie Oliver is a TV chef who campaigns for healthy school meals.)

READING THREE:

JUNK FOOD ADVERTS AIMED AT CHILDREN


You should now have some notes about the CAUSES, EFFECTS and SOLUTIONS to CHILDHOOD OBESITY.

SPEAKING

Practise discussing these questions, either with a friend or by yourself (use your smartphone or computer to record your answer and listen).

1) What are some of the causes of obesity?

2) What negative effects can eating junk food have?

3) Should all children get healthy food at school?

4) Some people say junk food should not be advertised to children. Why do they think this? Do you agree with this opinion?

5) How could the problem of obesity among children be solved?

6) Apart from eating healthy food, what else could schools do to solve this problem? What about parents?

WRITING

Now use your ideas and the ideas from the article to write the following essay:

Nowadays, obesity among children is becoming a serious problem in many countries. What causes this? What effects does this have? How could the problem be solved?

Write at least 250 words.
You should spend around 40 minutes on this task.

TIPS

• Make sure you answer all three parts of the question.
• Make sure you develop your ideas with reasons and examples.
• Think about what governments and parents should do to deal with the problem.
• The question doesn't focus on food, so you can mention other causes like lack of exercise.
• The question DOES focus on obesity among children, so make sure your answer focuses on children as well.