English Writing Ideas for Exams - 13

 13. Health

Diet

• The human body requires a balanced diet
• An unhealthy diet can cause various health problems
• Obesity, diabetes and heart disease are on the increase
• Many people nowadays rely on fast food or pre-prepared meals
• These foods often contain too much fat, salt and sugar
• They are cheap to buy and very easy to prepare
• Many young people have grown up on a diet of convenience foods
• Populations in developed countries are increasingly overweight Exercise
• Regular exercise is essential in maintaining a healthy body
• Exercise burns calories and helps to build healthy bones and muscles
• Doctors advise exercising at least three times a week for 20 minutes
• Most people nowadays lead a sedentary lifestyle
• We tend to walk less and do desk jobs
• Most adults relax by watching television
• Children play video games rather than doing outdoor sports
• In the past, people were more active in their jobs and at home

Government’s Role

• Governments have a significant role to play in reducing obesity
• More and more people, including young children are seriously overweight
• They are at risk of heart disease and diabetes
• This situation will increase the burden on hospitals and taxpayers
• Hospitals rely on the government for money and resources
• Governments should promote a healthy diet and regular exercise
• There should be more time for sports on school timetables
• Unhealthy junk food should be banned from school menus
• People need information about what foods contain
• Food packaging must show the food’s nutritional content
• The British Government recommends eating five portions of fruit and vegetables per day

State Health system: advantages

• Good healthcare should be available to everyone for free
• State healthcare is paid by the government using money from taxes
• Everyone has access to the same quality of care and treatment
• Private healthcare is unfair because only wealthy people can afford it
• The National Health Service in the UK provides free healthcare for every resident

Private Healthcare: advantages

• State hospitals are often very large and difficult to run
• Private hospitals have shorter waiting lists for operations and appointments
• Patients can benefit from faster treatment
• Many people prefer to pay for more a personal service
• Patients have their own room and more comfortable facilities

Alternative medicine: Positives

• People are increasingly using alternative medicines to treat illnesses.
• For example, acupuncture can be used to treat backache
• Herbal medicines can be used to treat allergies or viruses
• Many patients report positive experiences with these treatments
• Some traditional cures have been used for hundreds of years

Alternative medicine: Negatives

• Many alternative medicines have not been tested scientifically
• They may have no beneficial effect at all
• They may cause unknown side effects
• People should trust the opinions of qualified doctors
• An illness could get worse without treatment from a doctor

Stress

• Modern lifestyles are increasingly stressful
• People work long hours with strict deadlines
• Our busy lifestyles mean we have less time to relax
• Unemployment is a major cause of stress
• Children may be affected by their parents’ relationship problems
• Tests and exams can also cause stress

How to reduce stress

• Stress can be reduced by taking regular exercise and eating a healthy diet
• It is also important to get sufficient sleep and make leisure time a priority
• People should work less overtime and take regular holidays
• Schools have started to employ psychologists
• They can offer emotional support to students
• They can help students to cope with exam stress