IELTS Writing Task 2: Health — Advantages & Disadvantages Sample Answer

The adoption of vegetarian and vegan diets has grown substantially in recent decades, driven by concern about health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Assessing whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks requires examining each of these dimensions carefully.

The case for plant-based diets is supported by substantial evidence across multiple domains. Nutritionally, well-planned vegetarian diets are associated with lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and obesity — benefits attributable to higher consumption of fibre, antioxidants, and phytochemicals alongside lower saturated fat intake. Environmentally, livestock farming accounts for approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, occupies vast areas of land cleared at the expense of forests and biodiversity, and consumes disproportionate water resources relative to the calories produced. Shifting towards plant-based diets represents one of the most impactful individual actions available to reduce personal environmental footprints. Ethically, reducing the suffering of animals subjected to intensive farming practices reflects a moral concern that growing numbers of people take seriously.

The disadvantages are genuine, however. Poorly planned plant-based diets risk deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids — nutrients concentrated in animal products — particularly for children, pregnant women, and elderly people. Food cultural traditions are also significant: for many communities, animal-based foods carry deep social and ceremonial meaning, and assuming that all people can simply adopt Western-style vegetarianism overlooks considerable economic and cultural barriers.

On balance, the combined health and environmental benefits of well-managed plant-based diets outweigh the nutritional risks, provided guidance ensures adequate supplementation.