Health

Hello and welcome to the IELTS TIME Podcast! I’m your host, and today we’re tackling a Part 3 topic: health. As always, we’ll be turning to Joseph for some excellent sample answers, vocabulary, and ideas for our analysis. Let’s take a listen!

Do people pay enough attention to their health these days?

It’s a mixed bag, to be honest. On one hand, there’s definitely much greater awareness now about things like diet and exercise. You see it everywhere – social media is full of healthy recipes and fitness tips, and people seem far more informed about the importance of cutting down on sugar or getting enough steps in. There’s a visible push towards active lifestyles, especially among younger generations.

However, on the flip side, I also think a significant portion of the population still struggles to prioritize their health. The demands of modern life – long working hours, academic pressure, and financial stress – often mean that healthy habits fall by the wayside. It’s just easier to grab fast food when you’re busy, or to neglect sleep because you’re catching up on work. Plus, with so many sedentary jobs and constant screen time, physical activity can easily become an afterthought.

So, while the amount of information and availability of advice are higher, I’m not sure if that always translates into consistent, healthy behaviors for everyone. It feels like there’s a growing gap between those who are very health-conscious and those who find it incredibly challenging to integrate healthy practices into their daily lives.

Do you think the government is responsible for public health?

Absolutely, I believe the government holds a crucial responsibility for public health. It extends beyond just treating illnesses; it’s about prevention and fostering a healthy society.

Firstly, they’re responsible for establishing robust healthcare infrastructure – public hospitals, clinics, and emergency services – to ensure everyone has access to essential medical care.

Secondly, governments play a vital role in public health policy and regulation. This includes everything from ensuring clean water and sanitation and regulating food safety to implementing vaccination programs and addressing environmental factors like air pollution. These are systemic issues that individuals can’t manage alone.

Finally, they’re key in health promotion and education. National campaigns on healthy eating, exercise, and mental well-being, along with effective crisis communication during pandemics, are all vital government functions. Ultimately, a healthy population is a productive one, so it’s in everyone’s interest for the government to provide that foundational framework.

Do you think there are more unhealthy people these days than there were decades ago?

My impression is that while we’ve made incredible strides in treating acute illnesses and extending lifespans, we might actually be seeing a higher prevalence of certain types of “unhealthiness” these days, particularly chronic, lifestyle-related conditions.

Decades ago, the leading causes of death were often infectious diseases. Thanks to medicine, sanitation, and vaccines, we’ve largely conquered many of those. However, in their place, we’ve seen a surge in conditions like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer. These are often linked to our modern lifestyles: more sedentary jobs, readily available processed foods, increased stress levels, and less physical activity.

So, while people might be living longer, they might also be living with more chronic conditions for a greater portion of their lives. It’s not necessarily that people are less aware of health, but environmental factors and societal pressures make it harder to consistently make healthy choices. Fast food is convenient, screens are addictive, and work demands are overwhelming.

Therefore, I’d argue that while the nature of unhealthiness has shifted, the sheer number of people grappling with preventable, lifestyle-driven health issues is likely higher now than it was several decades ago.

How could parents encourage their children to be healthier?

That’s something a lot of parents are grappling with today.For me, the most impactful thing parents can do is truly lead by example. Kids are like sponges, right? If they see their parents regularly eating nutritious food, being active, and prioritizing sleep, they’re far more likely to internalize those habits themselves. It’s about showing them healthy living isn’t a chore, but just how we live.

Beyond that, creating a healthy home environment is key. This means making the healthy choice the easy choice. If the fridge is stocked with fruits and veggies and there are fewer sugary drinks or processed snacks around, children will naturally gravitate towards better options. Similarly, making time for active play – whether it’s going to the park, riding bikes, or even just dancing in the living room – helps make movement a fun, normal part of life.

And finally, involving children in the process can make a huge difference. Let them help pick out healthy foods at the supermarket, or assist with preparing meals. When they feel like they have a say and are contributing, they’re much more invested in the outcome. It makes healthy living feel less like a rule and more like a shared family activity.

Welcome back! Let’s break down Joseph’s responses, looking at his vocabulary, his ideas, and how he structured his answers for that Band 9 potential.

First up, the question: “Do people pay enough attention to their health these days?”

Joseph kicked this off brilliantly with “It’s a mixed bag, to be honest.” This is such a natural, conversational opening that immediately signals he’s going to explore both sides of the argument, which is exactly what Part 3 demands. In terms of vocabulary, he used some fantastic phrases like “greater awareness,” “a visible push towards active lifestyles,” and “healthy habits fall by the wayside.” That last one, “fall by the wayside,” is a really idiomatic and natural way to express neglecting something – excellent lexical resource right there! He also smartly brought in external factors like “academic pressure” and “financial stress” as reasons why health might be neglected, showing a good understanding of broader societal influences. And the phrase “growing gap between those who are very health-conscious and those who find it incredibly challenging” paints a very clear picture of his nuanced perspective. Really strong start.

Next, we move on to: “Do you think the government is responsible for public health?”

Joseph’s answer here was a masterclass in structured argumentation. He began with a strong, direct “Absolutely, I believe the government holds a crucial responsibility,” leaving no doubt about his stance. He then used clear transition signals: “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “Finally” to organize his points. This is incredibly helpful for the examiner to follow his logic. His vocabulary was precise and academic: “robust healthcare infrastructure,” “public health policy and regulation,” “systemic issues,” and “health promotion and education.” He wasn’t just stating what the government does, but why it’s important, touching on “fostering a healthy society” and how a “healthy population is a productive one.” That last point particularly elevates the answer, connecting health to broader societal benefits. It’s a very well-rounded and convincing argument.

Then, we come to  the question that always makes you ponder: “Do you think there are more unhealthy people these days than there were decades ago?”

Joseph’s approach here was wonderfully nuanced. He didn’t just give a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. He acknowledged “incredible strides in treating acute illnesses” but then pivoted to the “higher prevalence of certain types of unhealthiness, particularly chronic, lifestyle-related conditions.” This shows a deep understanding of the shift in health challenges over time. Phrases like “a surge in conditions like obesity, Type 2 diabetes” and “modern lifestyles: more sedentary jobs, readily available processed foods” are very precise and directly address the core of the question. He also cleverly highlighted that “while people might be living longer, they might also be living with more chronic conditions.” This level of detail and qualification is exactly what examiners are looking for in Part 3. He recognized that “the nature of unhealthiness has shifted,” which is a key insight.

Finally, we wrap up with: “How could parents encourage their children to be healthier?”

Joseph’s response here was warm, relatable, and practical. I particularly loved his opening, “That’s something a lot of parents are grappling with today,” which immediately connects with the universal nature of the challenge. His core idea of “lead by example” is spot on, and using the idiom “Kids are like sponges, right?” is both natural and engaging. He then expanded on this by suggesting “creating a healthy home environment” and “involving children in the process.” Phrases like “making the healthy choice the easy choice” are memorable and show a practical understanding. And finishing with how it makes “healthy living feel less like a rule and more like a shared family activity” really captures the essence of positive encouragement.

Overall, Joseph demonstrated excellent command of vocabulary, using both common and more sophisticated words appropriately. His ideas were well-developed, coherent, and directly answered the questions, often exploring different facets of the issue. His grammatical range and accuracy were consistently high, and his pronunciation was clear. If I were the examiner, I’d say Joseph has hit the mark for a top-tier Band 9 response in this Part 3 section.

And that brings us to the end of today’s deep dive into the ‘Health’ topic in IELTS Speaking Part 3. Thanks so much for listening in today. Join us again next time for more sample answers and in-depth analyses of vocabulary and ideas.