The "Fat" Tax

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/02/denmark-fat-tax-obesity  So now Denmark has a fat tax.  They're at around 10% of the population overweight.  We're at what?  Around 40%?  I think it's important to note, for those that won't read the articles, that the tax isn't just on fat, it's on food with excessive salt, sugar, or whatever other major negative health contributors there are. 

Image via Wikipedia

World obesity map.  Who'd have thought the Saudis would be fat too?






We need a tax on particularly unhealthy foods.  All the tax money can go to the healthcare system.  The increased productivity and health from a less obese population goes to the people.  Knowing their products will cost more, businesses that make these foods can change recipes to make them healthier, or at least have a healthy cheaper option and a more expensive unhealthy option.  While we're at it, I think advertisements for unhealthy foods should have a tax as well.  Taxing never solved anything?  That's bull.  Taxing cigarettes has helped decrease their usage.

Image via Wikipedia

An obesity map from 2006:

It is a major problem in this country that healthy food often costs more than unhealthy food.  Studies have shown that having food stamps is bad for your health.  The 2012 Farm bill article below explains that a lot of farm crop subsidies go towards unhealthy foods. 

There's nothing like a couple of mice to finish off a story about a fat tax.  We can just say the rat on the right is Danish, with 10% of their population overweight, and they now have a fat tax.  The rat on the left is American, with well over 30% of the population overweight, and with no fat tax. 

Image via Wikipedia

Related articles

• The 2012 Farm Bill: Why You Should Care (blogher.com)