The Fattening of America—bad genes, bad habits, or a good way to raise taxes?

I’ve got a message for America the fat: get control of yourself or face the fat tax.  That’s right, the signs are everywhere.  Food is going to be the next candidate for a sin tax.  Like gambling, smoking, and drinking, eating is going to pay for the pleasure it takes.

We all come out of the womb with a taste for two things: fat and sweet.  And mom’s milk gives us both.  It’s a fact; for the survival of the species we’re naturally born to follow our sweet and fat tooth.  But it’s also a fact that babies can learn to eat and like what’s good for them.  A study released in 1994 from the University of Illinois proved that after being presented with vegetable or fruits in the form of baby food ten days in a row, babies not only accepted the foods, they were more likely to accept other new foods as well. 

So if kids can learn to like foods that are good for them, who’s to blame here?  Are we too soft on our kids?  Are we just giving kids what they want to keep them happy, and in turn, fat? A lot of toddlers thrive on a diet of hot dogs and mac and cheese, and many of them grow up to be just fine; others don’t.  Environment surely plays a part, but it’s not the only factor.  Obesity is a complicated problem with many factors, including heredity.

Maybe big jeans come from bad genes. Just recently Reuters reported that researchers in Britain and France discovered a gene linked to both obesity and type-2 diabetes.  If there is a gene that makes us fat, how can people blame the food companies?  That’s easy, they can blame food companies because they want their money.  Enter the FAT TAX.

•    The Center for Science in the Public Interest envisions taxes on butter, potato chips, whole milk, cheeses, and meat.

•    In California, a Soda Tax Act was introduced in the state senate that would impose a nine-cent tax on every two-liter bottle of soda sold in the state.

•    Lawmakers in Nebraska proposed a measure to tax candy, soda, chips, popcorn, pretzels, pastries, donuts, cakes, tortes, pies, bars and cookies.

•    A legislator in New York proposed a tax not only on fatty foods but movie tickets, video games, and DVD rentals all under the idea that it would help people trim down.

The only thing this kind of taxing would reduce is the size of our wallets. We may think obesity is not our fault, but whether we blame our genes, the craveable foods we all love, or our moms for not forcing us to eat our vegetables, let’s remember this: no matter who we blame, at some point we have to take responsibility for ourselves.  The government is rearing its tax hungry jaws.  And it’s making me lose my appetite.

That’s it, from the edge of the world.

Bob

Comments

[Rachael]

Taxing the items alone won't make any difference. People will grumble a little, but a few cents won't take the ice cream and candy and soda and chips out of people carts or cabinets.
I'd love to see taxes on ice cream, candy, soda, junk foods of all kinds, etc. . . I'd want to see this tax go toward communtiy fitness programs, better parks and playground equipment that adults can use, too. Swimming pools free for the use of the community.
Also, Food Stamps should not be able to be used for those foods previously mentioned. Taxes should not help poor people get fat.
I've been on food stamps,

[Bob Noble]

We agree that taxing food products won’t reduce consumption. So then we’re faced with thinking about taxing certain food items and people’s propensity to over-eat as a way of getting money for community projects. Personally, I’d rather see parks and community fitness facilities as a responsibility of the whole community instead of raising taxes for those efforts on the backs of people who really need help understanding the root causes of obesity. Better nutritional information, encouraging physical activity, and reminding people of their personal responsibility seem to be good avenues for helping people who are obese. Support groups also can help. Let’s keep fat taxes as far away as possible and from hurting those people they are supposed to help.

[Debbie T.]

How about taxing overweight people?

Or giving tax discounts to those who are within their normal body weight, using a standardized formula, such as body mass index.
I don't really want to pay taxes on unhealthy foods, but more importantly I like the statement it would make. In the end we all pay for obesity. I wish I could be in a health insurance pool only for people within their ideal body weight. My premiums would be a lot less.

I pay monthly taxes specifically for the neighborhood park. I don't mind. I would like to have more options for inexpensive activities. I looked into joining the "Y", but, it cost several hundred dollars.

I realize obesity is a complex issue, but are there really that many people out there that do not know the basics?
Eat less
Excercise
Eat fruits and veg daily

[Justin Reed]

You could not tax fat people based on BMI. Muscle is heavier than fat.