IELTS Speaking · Vocabulary · Topic

    Health & Wellbeing vocabulary for IELTS Speaking

    Last updated 2 September 2026

    In short

    Talk fluently about lifestyle, fitness, diet, and mental wellbeing. This collection gathers 23 high-value words for the health & wellbeing topic, each with a clear definition, example sentences and the collocations that make it sound natural in the IELTS Speaking test.

    Word list

    All 23 words in this collection, with meanings and example sentences.

    balanced diet
    A diet that contains the right proportions of the different food groups.
    A balanced diet is key to staying healthy.
    job satisfaction
    The sense of fulfilment and contentment a person feels about their work.
    High pay doesn't guarantee job satisfaction.
    nutritious
    Containing substances that are good for your health and help you grow.
    A nutritious breakfast sets you up for the day.
    prevention
    The action of stopping something from happening, especially disease.
    Prevention is better than cure.
    welfare
    The health, happiness, and general wellbeing of a person or group; state support.
    The charity works for the welfare of children.
    chronic
    (Of an illness or problem) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
    She suffers from chronic back pain.
    epidemic
    A widespread occurrence of a disease, or a rapid rise in something harmful.
    The country is battling a flu epidemic.
    immunity
    The body's ability to resist a particular infection or toxin.
    Vaccines build immunity against disease.
    in moderation
    In amounts that are not excessive; within sensible limits.
    Most things are fine in moderation.
    under the weather
    Slightly unwell.
    I'm feeling a bit under the weather today.
    unwind
    To relax after a period of work or tension.
    A holiday is the perfect chance to unwind.
    wellbeing
    The state of being comfortable, healthy, and happy.
    Employers are paying more attention to staff wellbeing.
    burnout
    Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or prolonged stress.
    Long hours can lead to burnout.
    cognitive
    Relating to the mental processes of thinking, learning, and understanding.
    Early education supports children's cognitive development.
    detoxify
    To remove harmful substances from the body or a system.
    The liver helps to detoxify the blood.
    detrimental
    Tending to cause harm or damage.
    Plastic waste is detrimental to marine life.
    holistic
    Dealing with the whole of something rather than its individual parts.
    The school takes a holistic approach to a child's development.
    rehabilitation
    The process of restoring someone to health or normal life through treatment or training.
    Physical rehabilitation helped her walk again.
    resilient
    Able to recover quickly from difficulties; tough and adaptable.
    The economy proved surprisingly resilient.
    sedentary
    Involving little physical activity; spending much time sitting down.
    A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of heart disease.
    susceptible
    Likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
    Young children are especially susceptible to infection.
    alleviate
    To make pain, suffering, or a problem less severe.
    Painkillers can alleviate the symptoms.
    recuperate
    To recover from illness, exhaustion, or a setback.
    She went to the coast to recuperate after surgery.

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    Frequently asked questions

    How can I remember health & wellbeing vocabulary for IELTS?
    Use spaced repetition and active recall rather than rote lists: review each word with flashcards and quizzes at growing intervals, and practise saying it aloud in your own example sentences.
    How many words are in this collection?
    This collection has 23 hand-picked words, each with a definition, pronunciation, example sentences, synonyms and collocations.

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