Discussion Starters

Obesity
Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions

1. Why do people overeat?

2. Which parts of the world

have the highest obesity rates?

3. What is an epidemic?

4. What types of food are high in fibre?

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match up as many meanings and words as you can before you read.
You can check this exercise again after seeing the words in context on page 2.

1. obesity a) healthy to eat

2. sign b) the problem of being overweight

3. overeat c) related to the financial wellness of an area

4. public health d) the health of a community

5. nutritious e) a carbohydrate that helps you digest food

6. fibre f) an indication

7. lack g) not enough of something

8. timetable h) a personal schedule

9. economic i) to eat more than you need

10. life expectancy j) how long you will likely live

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 Obesity
Discussion Starters

Reading
OBESITY
How big will this problem get?

1. Did you know that obesity was once a sign of the rich and famous? “We allow things
Only those who had money were able to overeat. These days, obesity to be sold that
is a public health problem in many nations. Food is cheaper than
it used to be. Obesity affects the rich and the poor. In 2010, at least
should not be called
50% of Americans were overweight. Health experts warned that this food. Many have
number would rise above 80% by 2020. no nutritive value
2. Why is obesity increasing? The number one reason is food choice. and lead to obesity,
We know which foods are fattening, but we eat them anyway. Our salt imbalance,
busy lifestyles are part of the problem. Many people eat fast food
because they don’t have time to cook. Restaurant food is typically
and allergies.”
less nutritious than home-cooked food. It is high in sugar and fat —David Suzuki
and contains less fibre.

3. Another cause of obesity is lack of exercise. We may be busy, but that

doesn’t mean we’re moving. People work at computer desks and sit in
cars or on trains. Walking to school or playing sports after work does
not fit into our timetable.

4. Obesity isn’t only a health problem. It is also an economic concern.

Treating diabetes and heart conditions is very costly. Even children
require medical attention for obesity. Did you know that an obese
person’s life expectancy is similar to a smoker’s? Obesity cuts off
about eight to ten years of one’s life.

Comprehension
Discuss these questions in pairs, and write the answers in your notebook.

1. Why does the reading mention the rich and famous?

2. What is the main reason obesity is an increasing problem?

3. How does a busy lifestyle add to the problem of obesity?

4. How does obesity affect the economy?

5. What statistic is shared at the end of the reading?

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 Obesity
Discussion Starters

Vocabulary Review
A. Word Forms

Indicate whether the following words are adjectives, verbs, or nouns.

Practise making sentences out loud with a partner.
Take turns using both forms.

1. economic 4. obese

economy obesity

2. nutrition 5. health

nutritious healthy

3. expect

expectancy

B. Odd One Out

Choose the word or phrase that does NOT belong in the group.

1. a) warning 3. a) lack 5. a) indulge

b) sign b) not enough b) life expectancy
c) economy c) fibre c) overeat
d) indication d) missing d) feast

2. a) nutritious 4. a) public
b) healthy b) schedule
c) good for you c) timetable
d) overeat d) plans

Discussion Questions
1. Which countries (or cultures) do not suffer 3. How can governments reduce obesity?
from obesity? Why do you think this is?
4. Which is a bigger global problem,
2. Is childhood obesity a form of abuse? obesity or starvation?
Is it a parent’s job to make sure his or
her child has proper nutrition?

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 Obesity
Discussion Starters

Listening – Gap Fill

 http://blog.esllibrary.com/2011/01/19/podcast-obesity/

Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording.

OBESITY
How big will this problem get?

1. Did you know that was once a

of the rich and famous? Only those who
had money were able to . These days, obesity
is a health problem in many nations. Food
is cheaper than it used to be. Obesity affects the rich and the poor.
In 2010, at least 50% of Americans were overweight. Health experts
warned that this number would rise above 80% by 2020.

2. Why is obesity increasing? The number one reason is food choice.

We know which foods are , but we eat them
anyway. Our busy lifestyles are part of the problem. Many people eat
fast food because they don’t have time to cook. Restaurant food is
typically less than home-cooked food. It is
high in sugar and fat and contains less .

3. Another cause of obesity is of exercise.

We may be busy, but that doesn’t mean we’re moving. People work
at computer desks and sit in cars or on trains. Walking to school or
playing sports after work does not fit into our .

4. Obesity isn’t only a health problem. It is also an

concern. Treating diabetes and heart conditions is very costly. Even
children require medical attention for obesity. Did you know that
an obese person’s is similar to a smoker’s?
Obesity cuts off about eight to ten years of one’s life.

4. economic, life expectancy

3. lack, timetable
2. fattening, nutritious, fibre
1. obesity, sign, overeat, public

ANSWERS:

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 Obesity
Discussion Starters

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: TEACHING TIPS: LEVEL: Int

Students read about the causes and health
problems associated with obesity. They
learn and practise related vocabulary
and discuss childhood obesity.
See Discussion Starters Teaching Guide TIME: 1–2 hours
(https://esllibrary.com/courses/72/lessons/)
TAGS: obesity, health, diabetes,
for a variety of ways to use the reading.
childhood obesity, discussion,
Audio is available for this lesson.
junk food, fast food, sugar

Pre-Reading Vocabulary Review

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS A. WORD FORMS

Have students work in small groups or as a class. Sentences will vary.

1. adjective, noun 4. adjective, noun

B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
2. noun, adjective 5. noun, adjective
1. b 3. i 5. a 7. g 9. c 3. verb, noun
2. f 4. d 6. e 8. h 10. j
B. ODD ONE OUT
Reading (and/or Listening) 1. c 2. d 3. c 4. a 5. b

Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. Discuss the quote.

You can also play the listening as your students read along. A gap-
Discussion Questions
fill version of the reading is available on page 4. Help your students
Answers will vary.
with vocabulary and expressions that they are unfamiliar with.
Can be done individually or in small groups or pairs.

Comprehension

1. The reading mentions the rich and famous because

long ago, these were the only people who were obese.
2. The main reason obesity is an increasing problem
is because people do not make wise food choices.
3. A busy lifestyle adds to the problem of obesity
because people don’t have enough time to cook
homemade food. Restaurant food is more fattening.
4. Obesity affects the economy because it is expensive
to treat health problems. Even children require
medical attention for obesity.
5. At the end of the reading, it says that life expectancy
is reduced by 8 to 10 years. This is comparable to
a smoker’s life expectancy.

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