Breaking News English Lesson: Weight Loss

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Better weight-loss drugs predicted for 2024 (1st January 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Weight Loss - Level 6

One of the most common New Year resolutions is to lose weight. Weight loss could be a more achievable prospect in 2024 because of recently-approved injectable drugs that have proven to be particularly effective in helping people shed the kilos (or pounds). They belong to a class of medications called GLP-1. The most well known of these are Wegovy and Ozempic. The drugs.com website reported that in extensive studies of patients using Wegovy, 83 per cent of participants lost 5 per cent or more of their weight compared to 31 per cent of those taking a placebo. A cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic said obesity drugs "are here to stay" and that "more and more of these drugs are coming to the market".

The significance of the new remedies has been highlighted by industry experts. The prestigious journal "Science" declared the family of weight-loss drugs to be medicine's "breakthrough of the year" for 2023. This year could prove to be even better for overweight people, and for those who find exercising difficult. A new drug called Zepbound has been approved. In clinical trials, people taking this lost an average of 20-25 per cent of their weight. Obesity specialist, doctor Juliana Simonetti, said the new drugs were "amazing, since they address the underlying physiological cause of weight regain". She added: "I've been working in this field over the last decade, and the results are very impressive."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Weight Loss - Level 4 or Weight Loss - Level 5

Sources

https://www.ksl.com/article/50822912/why-the-future-for-americans-with-obesity-is-looking-brighter-in-2024
https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/long-lose-weight-wegovy-3570091/
https://gizmodo.com/semaglutide-tirzepatide-weight-loss-drugs-future-uses-1851116318

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. WEIGHT: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about weight. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
common / New Year resolutions / weight loss / drugs / effective / placebo / obesity /
remedies / experts / breakthrough / clinical trials / physiological / the last decade
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NATURAL WEIGHT LOSS: Students A strongly believe we should lose weight naturally and not use drugs; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS: What are your resolutions for this year? Will you stick to them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Resolution	Sticking to Them
English
Health
Money
Hobby
Friends
Food

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. KILOGRAM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "kilogram". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. LOSING WEIGHT: Rank these with your partner. Put the best ways to lose weight at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

No cakes and sweets
Keep a food diary
Weigh yourself daily
Lift weights
Eat more plants
Weekly fasts
Cycle everywhere
No alcohol

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	resolution	a.	Discard or lose something unnecessary, superfluous, or outdated.
2.	prospect	b.	A doctor who specializes in the study or treatment of heart diseases and heart abnormalities.
3.	approved	c.	A firm decision to do or not to do something.
4.	shed	d.	Officially agreed or accepted as satisfactory.
5.	extensive	e.	The possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring.
6.	placebo	f.	Covering or affecting a large area.
7.	cardiologist	g.	A substance that has no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs.

Paragraph 2

8.	significance	h.	A medicine or treatment for a disease or injury.
9.	remedy	i.	Inspiring respect and admiration; having high status.
10.	prestigious	j.	Relating to the observation and treatment of actual patients rather than theoretical or laboratory studies.
11.	declared	k.	The quality of being worthy of attention; importance.
12.	breakthrough	l.	A particular branch of study or sphere of activity or interest.
13.	clinical	m.	A sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.
14.	field	n.	Openly or formally asserted or announced.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

Losing weight is the world's most common New Year resolution. T / F
The new weight-loss drugs are administered by injection. T / F
A study showed that 5% of people lost 31% of their weight. T / F
The Mayo Clinic said we'll be using obesity drugs for a long time. T / F
The journal Science said the drugs were 2023's medical breakthrough. T / F
The drugs could help people who have problems exercising. T / F
People lost around 20-25% of their weight using a new drug. T / F
A doctor wasn't so impressed with the weight-loss drugs. T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

common
prospect
effective
extensive
drugs
experts
prestigious
trials
address
underlying

experiments
large-scale
reputable
remedies
likelihood
fundamental
successful
deal with
popular
specialists

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

One of the most common
Weight loss could be a more achievable
injectable drugs that have proven to be
a class of
more of these drugs are
The prestigious
medicine's breakthrough
in clinical
address the underlying physiological
I've been working in this

of the year for 2023
medications
coming to the market
cause of weight regain
New Year resolutions
field over the last decade
journal "Science"
prospect in 2024
trials
particularly effective

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

patients
prospect
market
compared
common
class
shed
placebo

One of the most (1) _____________________ New Year resolutions is to lose weight. Weight loss could be a more achievable (2) _____________________ in 2024 because of recently-approved injectable drugs that have proven to be particularly effective in helping people (3) _____________________ the kilos (or pounds). They belong to a (4) _____________________ of medications called GLP-1. The most well known of these are Wegovy and Ozempic. The drugs.com website reported that in extensive studies of (5) _____________________ using Wegovy, 83 per cent of participants lost 5 per cent or more of their weight (6) _____________________ to 31 per cent of those taking a (7) _____________________. A cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic said obesity drugs "are here to stay" and that "more and more of these drugs are coming to the (8) _____________________".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

prove
address
clinical
significance
regain
specialist
journal
decade

The (9) _____________________ of the new remedies has been highlighted by industry experts. The prestigious (10) _____________________ "Science" declared the family of weight-loss drugs to be medicine's "breakthrough of the year" for 2023. This year could (11) _____________________ to be even better for overweight people, and for those who find exercising difficult. A new drug called Zepbound has been approved. In (12) _____________________ trials, people taking this lost an average of 20-25 per cent of their weight. Obesity (13) _____________________, doctor Juliana Simonetti, said the new drugs were "amazing, since they (14) _____________________ the underlying physiological cause of weight (15) _____________________ ". She added: "I've been working in this field over the last (16) _____________________, and the results are very impressive."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Weight loss could be a more achievable ______
     a. prospect in 2024
     b. prospectus in 2024
     c. prospect in 2024
     d. introspect in 2024
2) injectable drugs that have proven to be particularly effective in helping people ______
     a. shade the kilos
     b. shod the kilos
     c. shed the kilos
     d. shred the kilos
3) The drugs.com website reported that in extensive ______
     a. studious of patients
     b. studies oft patients
     c. studies of patients
     d. studies of patience
4) participants lost 5% or more of their weight compared to 31% of those ______
     a. taking a place elbow
     b. taking a placebo
     c. taking a pass elbow
   d. taking a pleasurable
5) and that more and more of these drugs are coming ______
     a. to the mark kit
     b. to the mar kit
     c. to the mark it
     d. to the market

6) The significance of the new remedies has been highlighted ______
     a. by industry experts
     b. by industry expats
     c. by industry exports
     d. by industry ex-parts
7) "Science" declared the family of weight-loss drugs to ______
     a. be medicine's breakthrough
     b. be medicine's broke through
     c. be medicine's break trough
     d. be medicine's break though
8) In clinical trials, people taking this lost an ______
     a. averages of 20-25%
     b. averaged of 20-25%
     c. average of 20-25%
     d. avarice of 20-25%
9) drugs were amazing, since they address the ______
     a. overlying physiological cause
     b. un-relying physiological cause
     c. underlying physiological cause
     d. non-relying physiological cause
10) She added: "I've been working in this field over ______."
     a. the last decadent
     b. the last decade
     c. the last decadence
     d. the last decant

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

One of (1) ____________________ New Year resolutions is to lose weight. Weight loss could be a more (2) ____________________ 2024 because of recently-approved injectable drugs that have proven to be particularly effective in helping people (3) ____________________ (or pounds). They belong to a class of medications called GLP-1. The most well known of these are Wegovy and Ozempic. The drugs.com website reported (4) ____________________ studies of patients using Wegovy, 83 per cent of participants lost 5 per cent or more of their (5) ____________________ 31 per cent of those taking a placebo. A cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic (6) ____________________ "are here to stay" and that "more and more of these drugs are coming to the market".

The significance of the (7) ____________________ been highlighted by industry experts. The prestigious journal "Science" declared the family of weight-loss drugs to be medicine's "(8) ____________________ year" for 2023. This year could prove to be even better for overweight people, and for those who (9) ____________________. A new drug called Zepbound has been approved. (10) ____________________, people taking this lost an average of 20-25 per cent of their weight. Obesity specialist, doctor Juliana Simonetti, said the new drugs were "amazing, (11) ____________________ the underlying physiological cause of weight regain". She added: "I've been working in this field over the last decade, and the (12) ____________________ impressive."

Comprehension questions

What could be a more achievable prospect in 2024?
What could new drugs help people to shed?
What is GLP-1?
What percentage of people in studies lost five per cent of their weight?
What did a cardiologist say obesity drugs are coming to?
What did a journal call the weight-loss drugs?
What is the name of the new weight-loss drug?
How much weight did people taking the new drug lose?
What is Juliana Simonetti a specialist in?
What did Juliana Simonetti say about the results of the drugs?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What could be a more achievable prospect in 2024?
a) resolutions
b) weight loss
c) saving money
d) studying English
2) What could new drugs help people to shed?
a) layers of clothing
b) skin
c) pounds / kilos / weight
d) a tear
3) What is GLP-1?
a) an enzyme
b) a new disease
c) Glucose Lipo-Protein
d) a class of medications
4) What percentage of people in studies lost five per cent of their weight?
a) 31%
b) 83%
c) 20%
d) 25%
5) What did a cardiologist say obesity drugs are coming to?
a) the market
b) fruition
c) a pharmacy near you
d) the end

6) What did a journal call the weight-loss drugs?
a) breakthrough of the year
b) Bob
c) timely
d) a miracle
7) What is the name of the new weight-loss drug?
a) ZapWeight
b) ByeWeight
c) ZapPounds
d) Zepbound
8) How much weight did people taking the new drug lose?
a) an average of 40-45%
b) an average of 30-35%
c) an average of 20-25%
d) an average of 10-15%
9) What is Juliana Simonetti a specialist in?
a) clinical trials
b) drugs
c) averages
d) obesity
10) What did Juliana Simonetti say about the results of the drugs?
a) they are the physiological cause of weight regain
b) they were impressive
c) not much
d) they were inconclusive

Role play

Role A – Not Eating Cakes
You think not eating cakes is the best way to lose weight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): keeping a food diary, lifting weights or weekly fasts.

Role B – Keeping a Food Diary
You think keeping a food diary is the best way to lose weight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): weekly fasts, lifting weights or not eating cakes.

Role C – Lifting Weights
You think lifting weights is the best way to lose weight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): keeping a food diary, weekly fasts or not eating cakes.

Role D – Weekly Fasts
You think weekly fasts is the best way to lose weight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): keeping a food diary, lifting weights or not eating cakes.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'weight'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'drugs'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

•Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

common

proven

class

studies

compared

stay

significance

family

better

trials

doctor

field

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Weight Loss

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'New Year'?
How happy are you with your weight?
What are your New Year resolutions?
What do you think of injectable drugs?
What's the best way to lose weight?
Would you take drugs to help you lose weight?
What problems in society does obesity cause?
What additional health problems does obesity cause?
What should governments do about obesity?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'weight loss'?
What do you think about what you read?
Do you always stick to your resolutions?
Should we try to cure our bodily ills without drugs?
Have you ever tried to lose weight?
What breakthroughs do you think there were in 2023?
What three adjectives best describe this news story?
How do you think 2024 will go?
What questions would you like to ask the drug makers?

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

One of the (1) ____ common New Year resolutions is to lose weight. Weight loss could be a more achievable (2) ____ in 2024 because of recently-approved injectable drugs that have proven to be particularly effective in helping people (3) ____ the kilos (or pounds). They belong to a class of medications called GLP-1. The most well known of these are Wegovy and Ozempic. The drugs.com website reported that (4) ____ extensive studies of patients using Wegovy, 83 per cent of participants lost 5 per cent or more of their weight compared to 31 per cent of those taking a (5) ____. A cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic said obesity drugs "are here to stay" and that "more and more of these drugs are (6) ____ to the market".

The significance of the new remedies has been highlighted (7) ____ industry experts. The prestigious journal "Science" declared the family of weight-loss drugs to be medicine's "breakthrough of the year" for 2023. This year could (8) ____ to be even better for overweight people, and for those who (9) ____ exercising difficult. A new drug called Zepbound has been approved. In clinical (10) ____, people taking this lost an average of 20-25 per cent of their weight. Obesity specialist, doctor Juliana Simonetti, said the new drugs were "amazing, since they address the (11) ____ physiological cause of weight regain". She added: "I've been working in this (12) ____ over the last decade, and the results are very impressive."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) must (b) most (c) mist (d) mast
(a) suspect (b) aspect (c) inspect (d) prospect
(a) shred (b) shed (c) shaded (d) shod
(a) by (b) to (c) in (d) at
(a) placebo (b) credo (c) ego (d) gazebo
(a) coming (b) selling (c) buying (d) curing
(a) on (b) at (c) of (d) by
(a) prove (b) proved (c) proof (d) proven
(a) locate (b) find (c) search (d) discover
(a) trails (b) trolls (c) trials (d) thrills
(a) outlying (b) belying (c) underlying (d) inlying
(a) meadow (b) field (c) pasture (d) pen

Spelling

Paragraph 1

New Year ierotlsnsuo
a more ebeivlhaca prospect
recently-approved iebljnaetc drugs
They belong to a class of endtacmoisi
31 per cent of those taking a blacpoe
A riicasogdolt at the Mayo Clinic

Paragraph 2

The significance of the new eedmeirs
The uirtegisosp journal "Science"
medicine's brahkogthreu of the year
Zepbound has been parpedov
tcpaleiiss, doctor Juliana Simonetti
address the underlying aglooicphlyis cause

Put the text back together

(...)   drugs "are here to stay" and that "more and more of these drugs are coming to the market".
(...)   studies of patients using Wegovy, 83 per cent of participants lost 5 per cent or more
(...)   prospect in 2024 because of recently-approved injectable drugs that have proven to be particularly
(...)   effective in helping people shed the kilos (or pounds). They belong to a class of medications
(...)   of their weight compared to 31 per cent of those taking a placebo. A cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic said obesity
(...)   The significance of the new remedies has been highlighted by industry
(...)   who find exercising difficult. A new drug called Zepbound has been approved. In clinical trials, people taking this lost an
(...)   experts. The prestigious journal "Science" declared the family of weight-loss drugs to be medicine's breakthrough
(...)   called GLP-1. The most well known of these are Wegovy and Ozempic. The drugs.com website reported that in extensive
(...)   average of 20-25 per cent of their weight. Obesity specialist, doctor Juliana Simonetti, said the new drugs were "amazing,
( 1 ) One of the most common New Year resolutions is to lose weight. Weight loss could be a more achievable
(...)   "I've been working in this field over the last decade, and the results are very impressive."
(...)   of the year for 2023. This year could prove to be even better for overweight people, and for those
(...)   since they address the underlying physiological cause of weight regain". She added:

Put the words in the right order

Year most common One the of resolutions . New
achievable be could a more Weight loss prospect .
effective . that Drugs to proven be particularly have
GLP-1 . of Belong a to class medications called
drugs are the to These coming market .
the The highlighted . remedies has significance been of
even be year This could to prove better .
A approved . Zepbound been called drug new has
cause of physiological Address weight underlying the regain .
decade . last field in this over the Working

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

One of the most commonly / common New Year resolutions is to lose weight. Weight loss could be a more achievement / achievable prospect in 2024 because of recently-approved injectable drugs that have proof / proven to be particularly effective in helping people shed / shod the kilos (or pounds). They belong to a class of medicinal / medications called GLP-1. The most well known of them / these are Wegovy and Ozempic. The drugs.com website reported that in / on extensive studies of patients using Wegovy, 83 per cent of participants lost 5 per cent or more of / by their weight compared to 31 per cent of those taking / taken a placebo. A cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic said obesity drugs "are here to stay" and that "more and more of these drugs are coming to the bazaar / market".

The significance / significant of the new remedies has been highlighted by industry experts / expats. The prestigious journal "Science" declared the family of weight-loss drugs to be medicine's "breakthrough of the year" to / for 2023. This year could prove to be even well / better for overweight people, and for those who find / search exercising difficult. A new drug called Zepbound has been approved. In clinical trails / trials, people taking this lost an average of 20-25 per cent of their weight. Obesity specialism / specialist, doctor Juliana Simonetti, said the new drugs were "amazed / amazing, since they address the underlying physiological cause on / of weight regain". She added: "I've been working in this field over the last decade, and the results are very impassive / impressive."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

_n_ _f th_ m_st c_mm_n N_w Y__r r_s_l_t__ns _s t_ l_s_ w__ght. W__ght l_ss c__ld b_ _ m_r_ _ch__v_bl_ pr_sp_ct _n 2024 b_c__s_ _f r_c_ntly-_ppr_v_d _nj_ct_bl_ dr_gs th_t h_v_ pr_v_n t_ b_ p_rt_c_l_rly _ff_ct_v_ _n h_lp_ng p__pl_ sh_d th_ k_l_s (_r p__nds). Th_y b_l_ng t_ _ cl_ss _f m_d_c_t__ns c_ll_d GLP-1. Th_ m_st w_ll kn_wn _f th_s_ _r_ W_g_vy _nd _z_mp_c. Th_ dr_gs.c_m w_bs_t_ r_p_rt_d th_t _n _xt_ns_v_ st_d__s _f p_t__nts _s_ng W_g_vy, 83 p_r c_nt _f p_rt_c_p_nts l_st 5 p_r c_nt _r m_r_ _f th__r w__ght c_mp_r_d t_ 31 p_r c_nt _f th_s_ t_k_ng _ pl_c_b_. _ c_rd__l_g_st _t th_ M_y_ Cl_n_c s__d _b_s_ty dr_gs "_r_ h_r_ t_ st_y" _nd th_t "m_r_ _nd m_r_ _f th_s_ dr_gs _r_ c_m_ng t_ th_ m_rk_t".

Th_ s_gn_f_c_nc_ _f th_ n_w r_m_d__s h_s b__n h_ghl_ght_d by _nd_stry _xp_rts. Th_ pr_st_g___s j__rn_l "Sc__nc_" d_cl_r_d th_ f_m_ly _f w__ght-l_ss dr_gs t_ b_ m_d_c_n_'s "br__kthr__gh _f th_ y__r" f_r 2023. Th_s y__r c__ld pr_v_ t_ b_ _v_n b_tt_r f_r _v_rw__ght p__pl_, _nd f_r th_s_ wh_ f_nd _x_rc_s_ng d_ff_c_lt. _ n_w dr_g c_ll_d Z_pb__nd h_s b__n _ppr_v_d. _n cl_n_c_l tr__ls, p__pl_ t_k_ng th_s l_st _n _v_r_g_ _f 20-25 p_r c_nt _f th__r w__ght. _b_s_ty sp_c__l_st, d_ct_r J_l__n_ S_m_n_tt_, s__d th_ n_w dr_gs w_r_ "_m_z_ng, s_nc_ th_y _ddr_ss th_ _nd_rly_ng phys__l_g_c_l c__s_ _f w__ght r_g__n". Sh_ _dd_d: "_'v_ b__n w_rk_ng _n th_s f__ld _v_r th_ l_st d_c_d_, _nd th_ r_s_lts _r_ v_ry _mpr_ss_v_."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

one of the most common new year resolutions is to lose weight weight loss could be a more achievable prospect in 2024 because of recentlyapproved injectable drugs that have proven to be particularly effective in helping people shed the kilos or pounds they belong to a class of medications called glp1 the most well known of these are wegovy and ozempic the drugscom website reported that in extensive studies of patients using wegovy 83 per cent of participants lost 5 per cent or more of their weight compared to 31 per cent of those taking a placebo a cardiologist at the mayo clinic said obesity drugs are here to stay and that more and more of these drugs are coming to the market

the significance of the new remedies has been highlighted by industry experts the prestigious journal science declared the family of weightloss drugs to be medicines breakthrough of the year for 2023 this year could prove to be even better for overweight people and for those who find exercising difficult a new drug called zepbound has been approved in clinical trials people taking this lost an average of 2025 per cent of their weight obesity specialist doctor Juliana Simonetti said the new drugs were amazing since they address the underlying physiological cause of weight regain she added ive been working in this field over the last decade and the results are very impressive

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

OneofthemostcommonNewYearresolutionsistoloseweight.Weightlo
sscouldbeamoreachievableprospectin2024becauseofrecently-appr
ovedinjectabledrugsthathaveproventobeparticularlyeffectiveinhelp
ingpeopleshedthekilos(orpounds).Theybelongtoaclassofmedication
scalledGLP-1.ThemostwellknownoftheseareWegovyandOzempic.T
hedrugs.comwebsitereportedthatinextensivestudiesofpatientsusin
gWegovy,83percentofparticipantslost5percentormoreoftheirweight
comparedto31percentofthosetakingaplacebo.AcardiologistattheMa
yoClinicsaidobesitydrugs"areheretostay"andthat"moreandmoreoft
hesedrugsarecomingtothemarket".Thesignificanceofthenewremedi
eshasbeenhighlightedbyindustryexperts.Theprestigiousjournal"Sci
ence"declaredthefamilyofweight-lossdrugstobemedicine's"breakth
roughoftheyear"for2023.Thisyearcouldprovetobeevenbetterforove
rweightpeople,andforthosewhofindexercisingdifficult.Anewdrugcall
edZepboundhasbeenapproved.Inclinicaltrials,peopletakingthislost
anaverageof20-25percentoftheirweight.Obesityspecialist,doctorJu
lianaSimonetti,saidthenewdrugswere"amazing,sincetheyaddressth
eunderlyingphysiologicalcauseofweightregain".Sheadded:"I'vebee
nworkinginthisfieldoverthelastdecade,andtheresultsareveryimpres
sive."

Free writing

Write about weight-loss drugs for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

It is better to lose weight through exercise than through drugs. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. WEIGHT: Make a poster about weight. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS: Write a magazine article about weight-loss drugs. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on weight. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can control our weight. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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Breaking News English Lesson: Weight Loss

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