The Fat Tax
Apparently there is an “obesity epidemic” plaguing our country. Not only are we all getting fatter but a recent news report has also suggested that “fat” is also becoming more attractive to us.
Forget all about the aesthetic reasons for not wanting to be fat. I’m not talking about “fat acceptance” here. The bottom line is that being obese or fat is unhealthy. Obesity contributes to many diseases, heart disease and diabetes are among the most common.
One proactive approach to this epidemic that has been discussed for a decade or so is a “fat tax”. There would be a big tax on unhealthy or processed foods, perhaps fast foods. This tax could then be used for nutritional programs or to help subsidize the costs of healthy foods. One example that I recently read about was that an additional penny tax added to the cost of soft drinks would generate almost $1.5 billion a year. Wow, that is a huge amount that could really be put to good use in educating the public about health issues, preventing childhood obesity, reducing our health costs all around!
There are many debates pro and con for a “fat tax”. Which foods are appropriate to tax? Will a “fat tax” punish poorer people who must spend more of their money on food anyway? (I think if it encouraged them to buy potatoes instead of potato chips they’ll just be healthier for it and their health costs will go down to boot).
If a fat tax is implemented effectively, why wouldn’t it reduce our obesity rates, reduce our health costs, and educate our children about health for the future? If donuts cost more than apples, would people think more about their own health and choose the apples?
