Drugs and Obesity IELTS Reading Answers

Jan 28, 2023

Drugs and Obesity IELTS Reading Answers is an academic reading topic and a brief study about the drugs and obesity in human life. The given IELTS topic has originated from the book named “Practice Tests for Ielts 2”. The topic named Drugs and Obesity IELTS Reading Answers has a total of 13 wide range of questions. The topic consists of two sorts of questions, such as, choose the correct paragraph, and complete the following sentences. The candidates should thoroughly read the IELTS reading passage to recognize the synonyms and identify the keywords and answer the questions below. IELTS reading practice papers can be taken into consideration by the candidates in order to score a good score in the reading section in which similar topics like Drugs and Obesity IELTS Reading Answers has been included.

Check: Get 10 Free Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Section 1

Read the passage to answer the following questions

Drugs and Obesity IELTS Reading Answers

Thin is in, in America. Not only fashion magazines, but also doctors proclaim the importance of a slim, healthy body. Yet despite the current obsession with the trim, taut and terrific body, Americans are putting on weight. In studies conducted in 1995, one quarter of Americans were found to be overweight. Fifteen years later, that number had risen to one third of the population.
In the past, doctors have always recommended a combination of diet and exercise to combat obesity. With the increase in the number of people who are overweight, however, this solution is increasingly being seen to be ineffective.
Given that diet and exercise often do not help produce weight loss, Scientists are becoming convinced that, for many, obesity is a genetic disorder. In fact, a research group at Rockefeller University discovered in experiments on mice what is now called the obesity, or 'ob' gene. In turn, this discovery led to the identification of a hormone, leptin, that signals to the brain the amount of fat stored in the body.
When injected into the rodents, the hormone reduced appetite and increased the body's utilisation of calories, the energy produced by food which the body may convert to fat. With findings like these, a large number of medical experts are turning to a selection of drugs which appear to be safe and effective in reducing weight and maintaining lower weight levels.
Because they see obesity as an illness, these authorities claim that treatment should involve not only diet and exercise but drugs as well. What they have in mind is not just a short course of medication to produce small degrees of weight loss. They want to prescribe long term, perhaps lifetime, drug therapies, just as they might for high blood pressure or diabetes. Obesity's victims, these doctors hope, will not only be able to lose weight, but will also keep that weight off forever.
Not everyone in the medical community is satisfied with the new therapies. Conservatives are seriously worried that the new drugs are, in fact, merely placebos (medicines' that have no medical effect but may beneft the patient psychologically), or, worse, are actually detrimental to patients' health. Their concerns are understandable.
In the past, amphetamines-nicknamed 'uppers' or 'speed-were widely prescribed to control weight. Patients became slimmer, but suffered from tension and irritability, higher pulse rates, and sleepless nights, side effects that may have outweighed the medical benefits of lower body weight. Conservatives also point out that risky as amphetamines were, they were generally prescribed only for temporary use. Advocates of new drug treatments leave open the possibility that the medications will be prescribed for a lifetime.
While there are at least five now diet drugs waiting approval by the US Drug and Food Administration, at the moment, the only diet medication that is normally used in the US is fen-phen', a combination of the drugs fenfluramine and phentermine. Fenfluramine boosts serotonin, which elevates mood, while phentermine mimics other substances in the brain. Together, the drugs suppress appetite and increase the rate of burning of calories. As its success becomes more widely known, demand for this medication is Increasing
For several reasons, however, fen-phen is not the perfect diet medication. First, there is some debate over safety, although most fen-phen researchers say the drugs pose minor health risks compared with amphetamines. For most patients the short-term side effects are negligible; phentermine heightens alertness while persuading the body to burn more calories, and fenfluramine, thought to cut cravings for starches and sweets, can cause drowsiness.
But some users experience a racing heartbeat and, although rarely, hign blood pressure. While its effects are milder than those of amphetamines, the feeling of higher energy that fen-phen creates can be habit forming. Used alone, phentermine has enough of a positive psychological effect to appeal to recreational drug users, who call it 'bumblebee'. Perhaps even more importantly for dieters, while the drug may cause initial weight loss, over a period of several years, subjects taking the drugs tended to regain some of the weight they had lost-although at slower rate than those who did not take fen-phen.
Many conservative doctors, moreover, still remain reluctant to diagnose obesity as a disease. In a survey of 318 physicians, two thirds said their obese patients lacked self control, and 39% described them as lazy. This traditional view holds that obesity results from a lack of discipline, correctable by diet and exercise.
Since studies show that most dieters eat more than they say-or even think-they do, there is probably some truth in this view.
On the other hand, the traditional view is challenged by the discovery of the 'ob' gene, which would seem to place significant weight loss outside the individuaľ's control. Then there is the problem of the ever-increasing numbers of obese people, with the resulting increase in hypertension, and diabetes, leading to kidney failure and heart disease. All of these conditions require medication, and perhaps even costly equipment and surgery. If all of these effects of obesity must be treated with medication, then why not use medical treatment to help control body weight. Prevention is considered better than a cure, generally.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 14-20

Reading Passage 2 has ten paragraphs, A-J. Which paragraph contains the following information?

Question 14. the traditionalist viewpoint under attack

Answer: J
Supporting sentence: On the other hand, the traditional view is challenged by the discovery of the 'ob' gene, which would seem to place significant weight loss outside the individuaľ's control.
Keyword: traditional view, challenged, discovery, 'ob' gene
Keyword location: paragraph J, lines 1-2
Explanation: The first two lines of paragraph J suggests that the traditional viewpoint is under peril. It is at risk as it was challenged by the establishment of the ob gene. It seems to forecast an important weight loss inside a person outside their control. Also, increasing amount of obese people is the problem caused by the hypertension and diabetes problem. This tracks a person towards their failure of kidney and severe heart disease.

Question 15. research findings concerning obesity as an illness

Answer: C
Supporting sentence: Given that diet and exercise often do not help produce weight loss, scientists are becoming convinced that, for many, obesity is a genetic disorder.
Keyword : exercise, scientists, obesity, genetic disorder
Keyword location: paragraph C, lines 1-2
Explanation: The first two lines of paragraph C depicts the researchers claims of illness happening due to obesity. It is stated that weight loss does not always happens due to regular excercise and intaking of diet. For many people often, obesity is a kind of genetic illness or disorder, as per the scientists. Also, a research team of Rockfeller University implemented an experiment on mice. It is now known as the obesity or ‘ob’ gene.

Question 16. details of the effects of fen-phen on dieters

Answer: H
Supporting sentence: For several reasons, however, fen-phen is not the perfect diet medication.
Keyword : several, reasons, fen-phen, diet medication
Keyword location: paragraph H, line 1
Explanation: The first line of paragraph H suggests about the fen-phen medication of diet. It is helf for some reasons that fen-phen is not an appropriate medication of diet. At present, there is some argument over safety of fen-phen. On the other hand, some researchers claims that it is actually less hazardous in comparison to amphetamines. Also. for majority of patients, the short-term side effects of this medication is minimal.

Question 17. one group's assessment of the new drugs

Answer: E
Supporting sentence: Conservatives are seriously worried that the new drugs are
Keyword : Conservatives, seriously, worried, new drugs
Keyword location: paragraph E, lines 1-4
Explanation: Lines 1-4 of paragraph E clarifies about an assessment by a group about the new kinds of drugs. It explains that not every person related to the medical world is comlacent with the new kind of treatments or remedies. There is a fact to worry for the conservatives about the new drugs. It is a fact of worry that the new drugs are basically placebos. It means the medicines without any medical effect but affecting the psychological part of a patient. It can also be considered to be dangerous for the health of a patient.

Question 18. conservative view on the causes of obesity

Answer: I
Supporting sentence: Many conservative doctors, moreover, still remain reluctant to diagnose obesity as a disease.
Keyword : conservative, reluctant, diagnose, obesity
Keyword location: paragraph I, line 1
Explanation: The first line of paragraph I explains about an orthodox perspective of the causes of obesity. Various conservative doctors, still remain resistant that obesity can be considered as a disease. Two thirds physicians out of 318 said that their obese patients had less self control. Out of which, 39% of the physicians described their patients to be lethargic and lazy.

Question 19. data on weight gain within the population

Answer: A
Supporting sentence: Fifteen years later, that number had risen to one third of the population.
Keyword : Fifteen years, number, risen, one third of the population
Keyword location: paragraph A, lines 3-4
Explanation: The third and fourth lines of paragraph A explains the data on weight gain within the mass of population. One quarter of Americans were discovered to be chubby or overweight according to the studies in 1995. This number jumped up to the one third of the population after fifteen years.

Question 20. an explanation of the diet medication currently available

Answer: G
Supporting sentence: Administration, at the moment, the only diet medication that is normally used in the US is fen-phen', a combination of the drugs fenfluramine and phentermine.
Keyword : diet, medication, fenfluramine, phentermine
Keyword location: paragraph G, lines 2-3
Explanation: The second and third lines of paragraph G explains about a description of the diet medication. Presently, diet medication that is mainly used in the US is known as fen-phen. It is a blended mixture of phentermine and fenfluramine drugs respectively. Fenfluramine nurtures serotonin, which is responsible for the uplifment of mood. On the other hand, phentermine is the drug that imitates other substances inside the brain of a human.

Questions 21-26

Complete the sentences. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

The traditional weight-loss methods were seen as an (21)........solution to combating obesity.

There was evidence to suggest that obesity is related to the body's production of (22)..........and therefore is an illness.

Some authorities are hopeful that long-term drug therapies will help (23)......... sustain weight loss.

The kind of (24).........caused by amphetamines may have counteracted the medical benefits of weight loss.

The heightened feeling some drugs create can be (25)..........

The discovery of the obesity gene seems to put the responsibility for losing weight outside (26)...........

Question 21:

Answer: Ineffective
Supporting sentence: With the increase in the number of people who are overweight, however, this solution is increasingly being seen to be ineffective.
Keyword : increase, people, solution, ineffective
Keyword location: paragraph B, lines 2-3
Explanation: The second and third lines of paragraph B explains that to combat obesity, doctors have always advocated a combination of food and exercise in the past. But as the proportion of overweight people rises, this
method is increasingly perceived as being unsuccessful.

Question 22:

Answer: Leptin/A Hormone
Supporting sentence: In turn, this discovery led to the identification of a hormone, leptin, that signals to the brain the amount of fat stored in the body.
Keyword : discovery, hormone, leptin, fat stored
Keyword location: paragraph C, lines 3-5
Explanation: Lines 3-5 of paragraph C explains that university found the obesity, or 'ob' gene in mouse research. As a result of this discovery, the hormone leptin was discovered, which alerts the brain to the body's fat storage levels.

Question 23:

Answer: Obesity’s Victims
Supporting sentence :Obesity's victims, these doctors hope, will not only be able to lose weight, but will also keep that weight off forever.
Keyword : Obesity's victims, doctors, lose, weight
Keyword location: paragraph D, lines 4-5
Explanation: The fourth to fifth lines of paragraph D depicts the obesity’s victims. Some authorities want to provide long-term, possibly lifetime, pharmacological regimens. It is similar to how they would for high blood pressure or diabetes. These experts believe that those who suffer from obesity will be able to reduce weight and keep it off permanently.

Question 24:

Answer: Side effects
Supporting sentence: Patients became slimmer, but suffered from tension and irritability, higher pulse rates, and sleepless nights, side effects that may have outweighed the medical benefits of lower body weight.
Keyword : Patients, suffered, side effects, medical benefits
Keyword location: paragraph F, lines 2-4
Explanation: Lines 2-4 of paragraph F describes about the side effects of amphetamines. Amphetamines, sometimes known as 'uppers' or'speed,' were once extensively recommended to control weight. Patients lost weight, but adverse effects like tension and irritation, elevated heart rates, and insomnia may cause some effects. It may have overshadowed the health advantages of losing weight.

Question 25:

Answer: Habit forming
Supporting sentence: While its effects are milder than those of amphetamines, the feeling of higher energy that fen-phen creates can be habit forming.
Keyword : effects, amphetamines, higher energy, habit forming
Keyword location: paragraph H, lines 6-8
Explanation: The sixth to eighth lines of paragraph H portrays that occasionally, some users report having high blood pressure and a racing heart. Fen-phen’s side effects are less severe than those of amphetamines, the sensation of increased energy it produces can be addictive.

Question 26:

Answer: The individual’s control
Supporting sentence: which would seem to place significant weight loss outside the individuaľs control.
Keyword : significant, weight loss, individuaľs control
Keyword location: paragraph J, lines 1-2
Explanation: The first two lines of paragraph J suggests about the discovery of ob gene. It states that the discovery of the 'ob' gene, appears to place significant weight loss beyond of the individual's control. Then there is the issue of the rising prevalence of obesity, which is contributing to hypertension, diabetes, kidney failure, and heart disease.