This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of fast food becoming cheaper and more available and the advantages/disadvantages.

There is one element to this question that makes it a bit tricky.

It asks for advantageS and disadvantageS – plural.

That means you must have 2 per paragraph and still development them fully.

Read below to see how I solved this problem.

Dave

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IELTS Essay: Fast Food

In many countries, fast food is becoming cheaper and more widely available.

Do the disadvantages of this outweigh the advantages?

Many today are of the belief that the ubiquity of fast food provides enough enjoyment and economic positives to outweigh its impact on public health. In my opinion, the disadvantages related to health make this a negative development.

Those supporting the fast food industry typically point to the pleasure consumers derive and the employment it provides. There is little to argue about in terms of enjoyment. Fast food is affordable and tastes good. That explains its popularity and makes it accessible for people from even the lowest socioeconomic backgrounds. Moreover, there are obvious economic benefits. Companies like McDonald’s, Burger King, Baskin Robbins, and Domino’s Pizza are some of the largest employers globally. Their economic contributions extend beyond providing poorly paid jobs as they are taxed and thereby strengthen the federal budgets of both developing and developed nations.

Nonetheless, fast food has a huge impact in the health sector. Most tangibly, this concerns to obesity. Studies have shown that obesity rates soar in countries where fast food has become entrenched in the local market. The best known example of this is in the United States, where obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. Related and often symptomatic drawbacks include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Foods high in fat, sugar, and overprocessed ingredients have been proven to exacerbate these conditions, with heart disease now the single greatest cause of death around the world. This cannot be blamed entirely on fast food but there are very few healthy options on most fast food menus and the majority of companies specialise in quintessentially unhealthy foods like deep fried chicken, cheeseburgers, pizzas, and tacos.

In conclusion, despite the boons for enjoyment and the economy, fast food is a negative taken as a whole given its impact on well-being. It is therefore important to regulate fast food companies to curb their influence.

Analysis

1. Many today are of the belief that the ubiquity of fast food provides enough enjoyment and economic positives to outweigh its impact on public health. 2. In my opinion, the disadvantages related to health make this a negative development.

1. Paraphrase the overall topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Those supporting the fast food industry typically point to the pleasure consumers derive and the employment it provides. 2. There is little to argue about in terms of enjoyment. 3. Fast food is affordable and tastes good. 4. That explains its popularity and makes it accessible for people from even the lowest socioeconomic backgrounds. 5. Moreover, there are obvious economic benefits. 6. Companies like McDonald’s, Burger King, Baskin Robbins, and Domino’s Pizza are some of the largest employers globally. 7. Their economic contributions extend beyond providing poorly paid jobs as they are taxed and thereby strengthen the federal budgets of both developing and developed nations.

1. Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop your main idea with specific support.
4. Continue to develop the idea.
5. This question asks for advantages/disadvantages so make sure that you switch to a second main idea.
6. Develop the second main idea as fully as possible.

1. Nonetheless, fast food has a huge impact in the health sector. 2. Most tangibly, this concerns to obesity. 3. Studies have shown that obesity rates soar in countries where fast food has become entrenched in the local market. 4. The best known example of this is in the United States, where obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. 5. Related and often symptomatic drawbacks include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. 6. Foods high in fat, sugar, and overprocessed ingredients have been proven to exacerbate these conditions, with heart disease now the single greatest cause of death around the world. 7. This cannot be blamed entirely on fast food but there are very few healthy options on most fast food menus and the majority of companies specialise in quintessentially unhealthy foods like deep fried chicken, cheeseburgers, pizzas, and tacos.

1. Write another simple topic sentence with a new main idea.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop your main idea – using studies/research are a good way to start.
4. Give a specific example.
5. Use specific details to develop your example.
6. Switch to a related or similar disadvantage.
7. This paragraph is longer because it is the idea I agree with.

1. In conclusion, despite the boons for enjoyment and the economy, fast food is a negative taken as a whole given its impact on well-being. 2. It is therefore important to regulate fast food companies to curb their influence.

1. Summarise your main ideas and repeat your opinion.
2. Add a final thought/detail. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Many today are of the belief that the ubiquity of fast food provides enough enjoyment and economic positives to outweigh its impact on public health. In my opinion, the disadvantages related to health make this a negative development.

Those supporting the fast food industry typically point to the pleasure consumers derive and the employment it provides. There is little to argue about in terms of enjoyment. Fast food is affordable and tastes good. That explains its popularity and makes it accessible for people from even the lowest socioeconomic backgrounds. Moreover, there are obvious economic benefits. Companies like McDonald’s, Burger King, Baskin Robbins, and Domino’s Pizza are some of the largest employers globally. Their economic contributions extend beyond providing poorly paid jobs as they are taxed and thereby strengthen the federal budgets of both developing and developed nations.

Nonetheless, fast food has a huge impact in the health sector. Most tangibly, this concerns to obesity. Studies have shown that obesity rates soar in countries where fast food has become entrenched in the local market. The best known example of this is in the United States, where obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. Related and often symptomatic drawbacks include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Foods high in fat, sugar, and overprocessed ingredients have been proven to exacerbate these conditions, with heart disease now the single greatest cause of death around the world. This cannot be blamed entirely on fast food but there are very few healthy options on most fast food menus and the majority of companies specialise in quintessentially unhealthy foods like deep fried chicken, cheeseburgers, pizzas, and tacos.

In conclusion, despite the boons for enjoyment and the economy, fast food is a negative taken as a whole given its impact on well-being. It is therefore important to regulate fast food companies to curb their influence.

Answers

of the belief believe

ubiquity common

enjoyment like a lot

economic positives helps the economy

outweigh stronger than

public health wellness of most people

related to concern

supporting arguing for

typically point to usually cite

pleasure consumers derive joy people get from

employment jobs

provides create

little to argue about not much to disagree about

in terms of as it relates to

affordable cheap

explains a reason for

accessible can get

lowest socioeconomic backgrounds poor people

are some of the are among the

globally around the world

economic contributions extend beyond money they generate also includes

taxed pay money to the government

strengthen make stronger

federal budgets money the government has to spend

developing poorer countries

developed nations rich countries

health sector health

most tangibly most obviously and clearly

concerns relate to

obesity being very fat

studies have shown research indicates

obesity rates soar more people become fat

entrenched become a strong part of

local market economy

the best known example of this is clearest instance is

reaching epidemic proportions becoming an emergency

symptomatic drawbacks resultant disadvantages

cardiovascular disease heart disease

diabetes a condition related to eating too much sugary food

high blood pressure heart conditions

foods high in fat food with a lot of fat in them

overprocessed ingredients foods being manufactured repeatedly

exacerbate make worse

heart disease heart conditions

single greatest cause of death around the world #1 killer

blamed entirely 100% at fault for

healthy options healthy alternatives

specialise focus on

quintessentially unhealthy definitively unhealthy

boons advantages

taken as a whole given considered overall considering

well-being health

regulate control

curb limit

influence effect

Pronunciation

ɒv ðə bɪˈliːf 
ju(ː)ˈbɪkwɪti 
ɪnˈʤɔɪmənt 
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈpɒzətɪvz 
aʊtˈweɪ 
ˈpʌblɪk hɛlθ
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː 
səˈpɔːtɪŋ 
ˈtɪpɪk(ə)li pɔɪnt tuː 
ˈplɛʒə kənˈsjuːməz dɪˈraɪv 
ɪmˈplɔɪmənt 
prəˈvaɪdz
ˈlɪtl tuː ˈɑːgjuː əˈbaʊt 
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
əˈfɔːdəbl 
ɪksˈpleɪnz 
əkˈsɛsəbl 
ˈləʊɪst ˌsəʊsɪəʊˌɛkəˈnɒmɪk ˈbækgraʊndz
ɑː sʌm ɒv ðiː 
ˈgləʊbəli
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˌkɒntrɪˈbjuːʃənz ɪksˈtɛnd bɪˈjɒnd 
tækst 
ˈstrɛŋθən 
ˈfɛdərəl ˈbʌʤɪts 
dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ 
dɪˈvɛləpt ˈneɪʃənz
hɛlθ ˈsɛktə
məʊst ˈtænʤəbli
kənˈsɜːnz 
əʊˈbiːsɪti
ˈstʌdiz hæv ʃəʊn 
əʊˈbiːsɪti reɪts sɔː 
ɪnˈtrɛnʧt 
ˈləʊkəl ˈmɑːkɪt
ðə bɛst nəʊn ɪgˈzɑːmpl ɒv ðɪs ɪz 
ˈriːʧɪŋ ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk prəˈpɔːʃənz
ˌsɪmptəˈmætɪk ˈdrɔːbæks 
ˌkɑːdɪəʊˈvæskjʊlə dɪˈziːz
ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz
haɪ blʌd ˈprɛʃə
fuːdz haɪ ɪn fæt
ˈəʊvə ˈprəʊsɛst ɪnˈgriːdiənts 
ɛksˈæsə(ː)beɪt 
hɑːt dɪˈziːz 
ˈsɪŋgl ˈgreɪtɪst kɔːz ɒv dɛθ əˈraʊnd ðə wɜːld
bleɪmd ɪnˈtaɪəli 
ˈhɛlθi ˈɒpʃənz 
ˈspɛʃ(ə)laɪz 
ˌkwɪntɪˈsɛnʃəli ʌnˈhɛlθi 
buːnz 
ˈteɪkən æz ə həʊl ˈgɪvn 
wɛl-ˈbiːɪŋ
ˈrɛgjʊleɪt 
kɜːb 
ˈɪnflʊəns

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Many today are o___________f that the u___________y of fast food provides enough e_____________t and e_______________s to o_________h its impact on p_______________h. In my opinion, the disadvantages r______________o health make this a negative development.

Those s_____________g the fast food industry t_______________o the p_________________________e and the e___________t it p__________s. There is l_____________________t i_______________f enjoyment. Fast food is a_____________e and tastes good. That e___________s its popularity and makes it a____________e for people from even the l___________________________s. Moreover, there are obvious economic benefits. Companies like McDonald’s, Burger King, Baskin Robbins, and Domino’s Pizza a____________________e largest employers g____________y. Their e_____________________________________d providing poorly paid jobs as they are t_________d and thereby s_____________n the f_______________s of both d_______________g and d_________________s.

Nonetheless, fast food has a huge impact in the h______________r. M_________________y, this c___________s to o___________y. S_______________n that o__________________r in countries where fast food has become e_____________d in the l_______________t. T_____________________________s in the United States, where obesity is r_____________________________s. Related and often s_______________________s include c____________________e, d_____________s, and h_________________e. F__________________t, sugar, and o__________________________s have been proven to e________________e these conditions, with h___________________e now the s_____________________________________d. This cannot be b_________________y on fast food but there are very few h_________________s on most fast food menus and the majority of companies s_____________e in q________________________y foods like deep fried chicken, cheeseburgers, pizzas, and tacos.

In conclusion, despite the b_________s for enjoyment and the economy, fast food is a negative t______________________n its impact on w__________g. It is therefore important to r___________e fast food companies to c______b their i_________________e.

Listening Practice

Learn more about fast food from around the world below:

Reading Practice

Read some interesting articles from Vice on fast food:

https://www.vice.com/en_us/topic/fast-food

Speaking Practice

Talk about the following related topics from the IELTS speaking test:

Baking

1. Did you learn to bake as a child?
2. Do you bake often?
3. What foods are baked in your country?
4. Is baking popular in your country?

Writing Practice

Write about the following topic then check with my sample answer:

Some feel that countries should produce most of the food that is eaten in their country and import as little as possible.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Producing & Importing Food (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)