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Dieting Can Change a Person’s Life for the Better or Ruins One’s Health Completely - IELTS Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.


Write about the following topic:


Dieting can change a person’s life for the better or ruins one’s health completely.


What’s your opinion on that?


Dieting Can Change a Person’s Life for the Better or Ruins One’s Health Completely - IELTS Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay

How Dieting Can Change a Person’s Life: Strategies for a Band 9 Essay

If you’re looking for Band 9 sample essays on the topic of dieting and its effects on life, you’ll find them right after this brief. But if you’re in a rush, feel free to scroll down to access them directly. This essay topic explores whether dieting improves life or harms health. To craft a Band 9 response, focus on presenting one or two well-developed and thoroughly explained ideas instead of listing multiple shallow points. IELTS examiners prioritize quality over quantity—so take the time to clarify your position, provide detailed reasoning, and include relevant examples.


When the question asks for your opinion, choose the side you can argue effectively, even if it’s not your real-life stance. The key is clarity and depth. For instance, you might argue how thoughtful dieting can lead to a healthier lifestyle or highlight the risks of extreme dieting practices. Supporting your ideas with examples is essential. Remember, these examples can be hypothetical or based on real-life experiences, as long as they fit naturally into your argument. Additionally, ensure your essay meets the IELTS Writing Band Descriptors: achieve the task by answering the question clearly, structure your ideas coherently, use advanced vocabulary, and maintain accurate grammar.


To prepare thoroughly, take advantage of the resources available on this site. Download our eBooks in PDF format, which include detailed tips, strategies, and step-by-step examples for writing essays. You’ll also find a wealth of practice questions from recent IELTS exams. For personalized help, consider our essay correction service, where an experienced examiner provides detailed feedback on your writing within 24 hours. These resources can help you maximize your preparation and achieve your desired band score.



Sample Essay 1

Dieting has the potential to significantly influence a person’s life, either by fostering a healthier lifestyle or by negatively affecting overall well-being. In my opinion, dieting can positively change a person’s life if approached sensibly, but extreme or poorly planned dieting may lead to severe health consequences. This essay will explore how balanced dieting can improve health and productivity, while highlighting the risks of extreme dieting practices.


A well-planned and balanced diet can dramatically improve a person’s physical and mental health, leading to a more fulfilling life. For instance, incorporating nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can help manage weight, improve energy levels, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart conditions. Beyond physical health, healthy eating can enhance mental clarity and mood by stabilizing blood sugar levels. For example, a professional managing a demanding job might find their focus and productivity significantly improved by following a balanced diet. These benefits demonstrate how dieting can change a person’s life for the better when pursued with knowledge and moderation.


On the other hand, extreme dieting practices can severely harm an individual’s health. Crash diets or restrictive eating plans often deprive the body of essential nutrients, leading to fatigue, weakened immunity, and even long-term health issues such as hormonal imbalances or eating disorders. For example, an individual following a low-calorie diet without medical supervision might lose weight rapidly but suffer from dizziness, muscle loss, and mood swings. Furthermore, such diets often fail to deliver sustainable results, leading to a cycle of weight regain and psychological distress. Thus, while dieting can change a person’s life, overly restrictive approaches often do more harm than good.


In conclusion, dieting holds the potential to transform life positively when balanced and thoughtfully implemented. However, extreme dieting can jeopardize health and undermine its intended benefits. Sensible choices, backed by proper knowledge, are key to ensuring that dieting contributes to lasting well-being.


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Sample Essay 2

Dieting plays a pivotal role in shaping modern lifestyles, often determining whether individuals achieve physical and mental well-being or fall into unhealthy habits. In my opinion, dieting can profoundly change a person’s life by fostering self-discipline and setting the stage for a healthier routine. However, it can also lead to unrealistic societal pressures and psychological stress. This essay will discuss how dieting builds discipline and promotes routine while critically examining its potential to cause mental health challenges.


One of the most significant ways dieting can change a person’s life is by fostering discipline and encouraging a healthier daily routine. Sticking to a specific dietary plan requires commitment and the ability to resist short-term temptations for long-term gains, traits that can positively influence other aspects of life, such as career or academics. For example, someone following a meal-prepping routine not only gains control over their nutrition but also develops time-management skills and consistency. Additionally, structured eating habits like balanced meal timings promote better digestion and improved sleep cycles, indirectly enhancing overall well-being. By instilling discipline, dieting transforms not just eating patterns but also an individual’s broader lifestyle.


However, dieting can also lead to harmful psychological effects, especially when driven by societal pressures or unrealistic beauty standards. Social media and advertising often glorify unattainable body images, compelling individuals to adopt extreme or unnecessary diets. This can result in anxiety, low self-esteem, or disordered eating patterns such as orthorexia. For instance, a young adult influenced by fitness trends might develop an obsession with "clean eating," avoiding entire food groups out of fear of non-compliance, ultimately harming their mental health. Such pressures undermine the positive potential of dieting by making it a source of stress rather than health improvement.


In conclusion, dieting can serve as a catalyst for building discipline and healthier routines, positively transforming life. However, its impact can become detrimental if influenced by societal pressures, leading to psychological distress. A balanced approach is essential to harness its benefits while avoiding its pitfalls.


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