Opinion essay

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