Would taxing people because they are fat reduce the growing obesity problem in the United States?

Question

Why not implement a "fat tax" to penalize fat people. Smokers and drinkers get taxed heavily. Part of these tax revenues are used to pay for the health problems caused by their addictions.
I'm tired of my tax dollars being spent on taking care of diebetics and liver patients whose organs are failing because they can't stop eating.

I Agree that some people are genetically pre-disposed to obesity. But how is that any different that being genetically pre-disposed to having an additictive-personality type that makes it difficult to resist cigarettes and alcohol.

Havent you seen these stories of the 750 lb woman or the 1000 lb man on the discovery health channel. Thats not genetics thats self sabatoge!

Answer 1

In principle, this is a fantastic idea -- people who are obese tend to cause a larger burden on both our insurance structure as well as medicaid/medicare.

How are you going to determine it?

BMI is flawed - an NFL running back is "overweight" according to this formula?

Would you propose a combination of bodyfat % and height?

It is a very subjective road, is what I'm getting at. Again, in theory I like the idea but in practice it would be difficult.

Answer 2

It would appear to be an incredibly major problem, and on the rise do to the children that are obese and beginning to have major health concerns (heart,stroke,diabetes etc) at younger and younger ages. I recently read an article that claimed that there were children as young as 5 and 6 years old that had heart function, and lung capacity of 45 year olds. If thats not a major problem I'm not sure what is!! Edit*** Good point susieq

Answer 3

I don't agree with this, and I don't agree with taxing cigarettes or alcohol as punishments, either. Where does it end?! Freedom is the right to use and abuse your body as you see fit! And some people really are built to get and stay fat!

Incidentally, you do understand that nasty crap like fast food is easier and cheaper for hard-working poor people to get than nutritious food, right? Go to Whole Foods, a/k/a Whole Paycheck, and see what food stamps or a minimum wage paycheck will get you. Or just get you something nutritious that you'll actually want to force down your throat at a regular grocery store. Then go to the bad part of town (you know where it's at) and go to the closest thing they have to a supermarket. Bet you'll have an easier time getting fried apple pies than an apple.

If you really understood these issues, you'd think much differently.

Answer 4

No... Did taxing cigarettes stop people from smoking, no!! It did not work because it was an addiction. In Texas a pack of cigs cost $4 a pack, not a single smoker that I know quit due to taxes!! Same as food, it is an addiction as well, it will not stop eating!! Taxes don't work, ie, gas, it is already taxed to the hilt, did you stop driving??? No!!

First, I am not overweight and do not smoke. I am 5'2" and weigh 120lbs and workout. I do however have a mother-in law that weighs 90 lbs and is 5" and is an extreme diabetic and her weight is obviously not her issue. I also have several friends that are obese, and deal with prejudice people like yourself everyday.

If your theory worked, should we then tax "healthy people" that workout and have injuries...accidents for those on bikes, steroid addition, Parkinson’s disease for those who box, spine injuries for ie football players, torn muscles, back injuries, bad joints, hamstrings, shoulder surgery, the list is endless.... arthritis when they are old??

Better yet, why don't we require all to have DNA testing... God forbid if you have cancer, Alzheimer's, breast cancer, or the endless list of diseases that tend to genetic.

So, in short I think you are prejudice against heavy people... why are you like that?? Do I have to pay for shrink bills to find out why you hate fat people. Oh, tax people that have "hate" issues or mental disorders!! Now we are talking!!

The thought of giving up one more liberty for a liberal like yourself is just mind numbing to me!!

Sorry, a ridiculous questions deserves an absurd answer.... do you listen to yourself before you speak??? Thinking NOT!!

When you are heathly until the day you die, then come talk to me about taxing people for what they eat.

Get a life!! I hope you have a long life with no hospital bills, illnesses, and you have a large field to graze on grass with no fatty foods!! Ugh!!

Answer 5

Why don't you pay the tax? Apparently a medical condition should be taxed accordingly (YOUR OPINION). Weight is not always about control, as you seem to think, Where as drinking and smoking can be controlled ALL THE TIME.

Why don't we tax cancer patients and quadruple bypass patients too? Obviously these are conditions you think you are paying for as well. Stop working and go on welfare. Then you wont have to pay anyone's tax.

You are just another jackass in the line. Take a number. PS My liver and organs are fine.

Answer 6

You're assuming all fat people overeat. Some are fat because of genes, disease or drugs. And many studies show that most weight loss attempts fail, cause the body to raise its natural weight setpoint, and are generally less healthy than maintaining a stable though high weight. And studies show many of the assumed "risk factors" (like diabetes) are not caused by being fat but are co-symptoms of an underlying condition. Of course it's convenient to make it a moral issue because fat people are so easy to spot.

How are you going to assess this "tax"? Weight? Tall people are heavier than short people. BMI? Many athletes will get taxed. Body fat percentage? Good luck getting those numbers! Many fat people are poor and can't afford "diet food" and personal trainers. Because of their economic situation, many live in areas without decent grocery stores so their food choices are limited to prepackaged, preprocessed food. But cheap hamburger joints are EVERYWHERE! What choice do they have but to eat unhealthy food?

Better to tax factory farms that produce crappy food, hire sub-minimum-wage workers, pollute the rivers, drive small farmers into bankruptcy and destroy local economies.

Answer 7

Hummmm, it may be a great ideal, except for the fact that a lot of over weight people are that way because of cheaper and inferior foods......there are wealthy who eat a larger quality of food, but a better quality so there greed doesn't so like a poor individual eating meats with more fat or preserved vegetables.....so no, we would only be taxing those who eats cube steak because they cant afford the better cuts of meat.

Answer 8

No!!! fat people shouldnt be taxed. Smokers and Drinkers are a hazard to the society, thats why they're being taxed. Fat and obese people are a hazard only to themselves. They suffer as a result of their own actions. Smokers infest other people with their smoke and drinkers kill people when they drive drunk. Fat people just die of heart attacks!

Answer 9

that's not always the case. In some people its inherited, and some people are just big boned and some people have an eating disorder that they can't stop eating and some people have no discipline and they just need help like smokers and drinkers. obese people are only hurting themselves when they are over weight. As for drinkers and smokers they are hurting everyone around them, when people drink alcohol, they get in a car and drive, they can kill someone else as themselves. Smokers can kill themselves by getting cancer as they can kill someone else with their second hand smoke. Over weight people can kill themselves by being over weight. It hasn't been proven that they can kill anyone else yet.

Answer 10

Smokers are not taxed, nor are drinkers. Cigarettes and booze are taxed. Food is also taxed. Therefore there already is a "fat" tax. The more food one buys, the more one is taxed.

I think we need fewer taxes, not more.