Fat Tax? Good idea?

Question

Giles Coren's programme on More4 tonight puts forward an idea for taxing people with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over. The clinically to morbidly obese population of the UK , Coren estimates, cost the UK £3.5 billion. Should their be some kind of overt fat tax or even increase duty on fatty/fast food?

A health professional on the programme put the blame for the huge majority on eating badly and lack of exercise. Using glands, big bones, genes as excuses is b*llocks apparently.

And also you don't have to be poor to be fat as healthy foods are very cheap, as Coren again proved on the show (£19 for a healthy ten day shop?)

Can I just say to the person who called me ignorant at the bottom, I was explaining someone else's idea (Giles Coren) and not mine, idiot. I think putting tax duty on fatty foods and making healthy food and gyms cheaper is the best way.

Kornfan #1, again, this is someone else's idea on a TV documentary, not mine, I was opening it up for discussion, STUPID. And I'm educated to a postgrad level. Read the question you pituary f**king retard!

Answer 1

While we're at it, let's tax people with:
1) high blood pressure
2) high cholesterol
3) sisters/mothers with breast cancer
4) fathers that are bald
5) kids that need braces
6) wives/husbands that vote republican
7) a job that pays minimum wage

Hmmm, I guess they already tax that last group...

Answer 2

The point of the NHS is that we all contribute to pay for people that can't. Sometimes it is unfair, but what is the alternative? You are in a car crash and the paramedics want your credit card number before they pick you up?

Okay, obesity is down to lifestyle, rather that genes, but metabolism is a factor, and everyone needs to eat something so it is easy to overeat. If we are going to start taxing people for their lifestyles, why not alcoholics or drug abusers, who can go teetotal?

I think the solution is to tax unhealthy foods and make healthier foods cheaper. Admitedly, this won't completely prevent obesity, but it will make it easier for people to make healthy decisions and will help to pay for the expense.
I also think that a more positive attitude to sport at school would be helpful. If you have kids who are more overweight than their friends, then they are going to be self concious, and probably not as agile or sporty as their friends. So telling them to put on shorts and a t-shirt and compete against people isn't going to encourage them. I think PE uniforms should be less revealing, like tracksuits, and there should be a greater emphasis on non competetive sports like swimming, aerobics and dance.

Answer 3

These people need the opportunity to re-educate themselves and to be assessed and pay into a Fat-Camp type system, I hate the words Fat-Camp but the principle is the point I am making.
There are a lot of various reasons, for people being overweight and they do need help with the reason as well as the problem, a tax type system with all money going to alleviating the problem would be helpful.
This has legs, and could work.

Answer 4

You know? At first I lmao at this question, then really started thinking about it. Although I disagree that fresh vegetables and lean meats are affordable to everyone (most lower income and poverty stricken families have to stretch their food budget as far as possible, and you can't do that with salads...), I can see the benefits of taxing fast food restaurants. Can you imagine the millions of dollars that would be available immediately for medical research and physical therapy for the obese just by adding a one cent tax to every McDonalds hamburger? And with the funds, gymnasium's policies/charges could be changed for little or no charge to anyone over the 30BMI. I like it! Way to go!!

Answer 5

it must have took a real moron to think this one up .there are lots of people who through no fault of their own are clinically obese people with disabilites and severe health problems who can not do a thing about their weight a lot of the time it may be due to medication steroid for example ,plus people in their condition can not exercise .you have to be very ignorant to think that every obese person got that way through choice,i dare say quite a few did but it is stupid to class everybody the same ,life is not as cut and dried as that .

Answer 6

I agree. I think a 'fat tax' is rediculous and i think the country should deal with the drug addicts taking methodone first of all, before we start on nonsense like this.

Bearing in mind, smokers are taxed, yes, but given every help under the sun to give up, patches on the NHS, workplaces offering help etc - lets get a grip on reality here.

Answer 7

no i think that would be wrong and not fair. i know a lot of them like cake but some people have medical problem and can not help it. and if that did happen what next taxing people who drink more than 10 pints a week or people who have jobs that involve heavy lifting cause they are more likly to get a bad back. anyway how they going to know people body mass if people dont want to have the tests gather them up in the streets like stray dogs

Answer 8

I think to a certain point, this might actually be a good solution although not every fat person is fat because of what they eat or eating too much.
Some people have health problems that dont allow them to keep at a certain weight or lose weight..#
But for families who are too often at macdonalds,etc i think it would be a good idea yeah
Sorry if my opinion has offended anyone

Answer 9

Brillian idea. Let's tax the americans for that, with all funds going towards saving the planet from war, pollution and repeats of Friends !

Answer 10

Speaking as one who is about to get back into regular exercise this summer, I would not appreciate a fat tax. It might be more beneficial to sponsor fun exercise motivation programs.