Fat Tax - Aaron Ogunro

I believe a fat tax would decrease obesity in the United States. Increasing a tax on unhealthy foods would force people to make healthier decisions when it comes to food choices. When the United States increased the taxes on cigarettes, smoking went down considerably, and the same thing could happen to obesity if a fat tax is enforced. Of course, food isn’t the only reason obesity exists. This fat tax would solve part of the problem, but physical activity needs to be increased as well. These taxes would be especially helpful in fast food restaurants. Their main attraction is that they are a cheap form of sustenance. Increasing the tax on fast food items would deter many people from eating out so often. The USA has made great strides in trying to reduce obesity. Some examples include forcing restaurants to show the caloric intake of each of their items so people can be informed about what they are putting in their bodies. This has forced all types of restaurants to ensure they are providing healthier and better quality food.

Most importantly, reducing obesity has major economic advantages. Having a healthier population means having a stronger work force. Obesity causes work place absences due to obesity-related illnesses and deaths. Estimates say that obesity-related costs in the US account for 21% of annual medical expenditures, which is about 190 billion dollars per year. By creating a tax on fatty foods and beverages, we will be able to reduce the consumption of fatty foods and create revenue to combat the money lost each year due to obesity-related problems.

http://www.healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org/learn-the-facts/economic-costs-of-obesity/