(Reuters) - U.S. researchers estimate that an 18 percent tax on pizza and soda can push down U.S. adults' calorie intake enough to lower their average weight by 5 pounds (2 kg) per year. The researchers, writing in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine on Monday, suggested taxing could be used as a weapon in the fight against obesity, which costs the United States an estimated $147 billion a year in health costs.
"While such policies will not solve the obesity epidemic in its entirety and may face considerable opposition from food manufacturers and sellers, they could prove an important strategy to address overconsumption, help reduce energy intake and potentially aid in weight loss and reduced rates of diabetes among U.S. adults," wrote the team led by Kiyah Duffey of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
I have no problem with academia doing research on topics that will promote better health, but why does the recommendation/solution to the problem nearly always involve government intervention and taxation?
REGULATE-REGULATE-REGULATE!!!!
2 comments:
I have an idea. Instead of taxing food, why not tax the person? There are already set standards on the appropriate weight range for people of different heights and builds. If you exceed that weight range, then you are taxed X for every excess pound. Every dollar collected from the 'FAT TAX' is spent to pay down the national debt. This would provide incentive for people to lose weight, reduce health care costs, and also help pay down the debt Considering most people in America are considered obese, this would be a real revenue generator! Ha!
Pay down the debt!
You mean like putting that FAT-TAX money in a lock-box.....where it can't be touched. Like Social Security where all your contributions are in a box with your name on it.
And if you're under the GOVERNMENT MANDATED WEIGHT, do you get some kind of rebate?
What about the WEIGHT STATIONS? Those have to be set-up and manned...............by real skinny Federal Government Agents!
OK OK! Check it out! Every Monday (cause you eats more on weekends) morning everyone has to get weighed at a Federal Community Weight Station, payment has to be made on the spot, and all the results are posted online!
I'm starting to like this FAT TAX!
WHOAAAA! What about the fat illegals??? You know, the ones in the shadows................eating burritos.
Post a Comment