Version collected by edition 2019 from examiners lore m ipsum david sinclair a collection of 100+ Writing Task Essays ielts essays essays From Examiners 0

 
79 
January 1, 2019 
70.
 
Responsibility for health 
Many people believe that every individual is responsible for his/her own healthy 
lifestyle. Others believe that governments should take care of it. Discuss both these 
views and give your own opinion. 
There has been much recent policy advocacy related to what the proper role of 
governments in healthcare should be. Although I believe governments have begun to treat 
this issue with the seriousness it merits, the responsibility for taking care of one’s health 
should ultimately rest with individuals as they are more likely to stick with habits that they 
themselves have cultivated. 
Those who favour strong governmental intervention often point out the role of the state in 
forming healthy eating habits through early intervention at public schools. In the United 
States, the vast majority of students attend state schools and in recent years the 
government has been implementing new policies aimed at curbing addiction to unhealthy 
foods. This means that they have reduced the total intake of saturated fats in school 
lunches and drastically cut down on sugar not only in prepared lunches but also in the 
ubiquitous vending machines placed around most schools. In the short term this has led to 
improved health for students but its true effect will be over the next several decades when 
these children grow up and are more likely to eschew fast food for the healthier 
alternatives now opening up to meet the growing demands of an increasingly health-
conscious nation. 
While there are clear benefits to governmental action, individuals are better at regulating 
their own behaviour in the long-term. People have always found ways to get around rules 
in order to satisfy their most basic desires, including those related to food. No matter what 
steps governments take, people will always crave unhealthy, delicious foods as our brains 
are hardwired to feel pleasure from saturated fats, carbohydrates, and sugar. For example, 
even a country like France, which has imposed strict rules over the food that children are 
served, is still facing an obesity crises. Therefore the only way for people to consistently 
combat poor health is to develop the discipline on their own. Individuals who make the 
choice to eat healthier are more likely to stick with this habit having worked out the 
reasons for themselves, rather than simply following a rule imposed by their schools at the 
behest of the government. 
In conclusion, governments have a large role to play in public health but only individuals 
can take control of their own lives and make decisions that will truly benefit them in the 
future. In this case, the best solution is simply no solution. Standing back and allowing 
people to become more self-reliant will not only have more long-lasting effects but will also 
empower individuals in various other areas of their life to be more responsible.

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