Fat Tax

[Taekwondo Guy]

I've been thinking about this, the Bristish Government is trying to get people to eat more healthy and cut deaths from obesity related illnesses/conditions...
Smoking is taxed to the hilt and rising every year to price people of ciggerettes (£5 a pack so.... $9.00?)
Smokers literally pay for the strain they place on the health service with the millions/billions they pay in tobacco taxes each year.

Obesity, links to heart disease, diabetes, osteoperosis, joint problems, and many others.

Fast food is cheaper than healthy options when it comes to eating out due to its processed nature, should there be a tax on junk food to help pay for the millions of obese people in hospital who cant say no to a burger?

I used to be a smoker, i gave up smoking as its a killer (thats a no brainer). I eat junk food but in light moderation to the exercise that i do.
I used to get endless comments like smokers are costing the health service millions, i used to retort by saying that the amount of obese people out there are causing a bigger strain with a wider range of health problems and the amount of obese people out weighs (pun intended) the amount of smokers.

Fat tax? Viable idea?

[Tas]

ive saw such an idea on tv not so long ago... but they wanted to focus more on getting good foods cheaper, rather then tax take-outs.

Its an idea that might be worth taking the time to look at...

[t_dot_porkchop]

fat tax might be hard for most to swallow (no pun intended).

i heard rumours though that canada might make things like gym memberships deductible....

[Classik]

Originally Posted by Incredible Bulk

I've been thinking about this, the Bristish Government is trying to get people to eat more healthy and cut deaths from obesity related illnesses/conditions...
Smoking is taxed to the hilt and rising every year to price people of ciggerettes (£5 a pack so.... $9.00?)
Smokers literally pay for the strain they place on the health service with the millions/billions they pay in tobacco taxes each year.

Obesity, links to heart disease, diabetes, osteoperosis, joint problems, and many others.

Fast food is cheaper than healthy options when it comes to eating out due to its processed nature, should there be a tax on junk food to help pay for the millions of obese people in hospital who cant say no to a burger?

I used to be a smoker, i gave up smoking as its a killer (thats a no brainer). I eat junk food but in light moderation to the exercise that i do.
I used to get endless comments like smokers are costing the health service millions, i used to retort by saying that the amount of obese people out there are causing a bigger strain with a wider range of health problems and the amount of obese people out weighs (pun intended) the amount of smokers.

Fat tax? Viable idea?

Will never happen... cuz even though most governments wants healthier people it is peoples choice to eat that food or not and they know its not good for them... they just dont the effort like us to stop eating it... and they cant force businesses to expect to have to deal with the loss of business cuz of that bull**** tax

but very good idea!!!!! very!!!! not downing it just saying!! i think its smart

[kmatt42]

If implemented I am sure the government would screw it up.
How would they base it?
For example.... I was denied life insurance until I got a complete physical.
I am 5'8" 180lb 12to14%bf My BMI is 27.4 = OVERWEIGHT
Even the doctor laughed during most of the physical.
I am afraid I will be taxed for being OVERWIEGHT.......

[fumbrunner]

I think they are referring to taxing certain foods, not individuals who are overweight.

I like the idea, but how would that be implemented? What would be taxed and not?

[RRAdam]

Ahhh... another sin tax

[TRAZ]

I think it is a great idea. It won't ever happen though. I would enjoy not seeing 400lb 'people' shoving 14 double whoppers down their throats....

[t_dot_porkchop]

they cannot go about "taxing" fat people, there would be a revolution! what they can do is give tax breaks to people that choose to live healthier...

[Builder101]

I like the idea

[Spartan.]

Originally Posted by t_dot_porkchop

they cannot go about "taxing" fat people, there would be a revolution! what they can do is give tax breaks to people that choose to live healthier...

Bump

It's too hard to define 'fat'. To us, a fatty might be over 12% BF. To a doctor, it might be over 20 (or whatever the hell the scale is) BMI. The better idea is to make supplements, gym memberships, healthy (organic) foods, etc. tax deductible.

[benlittle]

Why should it be the governments problem? What happened to freedom?

[Spartan.]

Originally Posted by benlittle

Why should it be the governments problem? What happened to freedom?

Wrong place for this argument. Both the US government and English parliament are far too authoritarian, but irregardless there is likely to be something done officially by them in respect to the obesity problem.

[fumbrunner]

Originally Posted by benlittle

Why should it be the governments problem? What happened to freedom?

because my tax dollars goes to treat all the conditions associated with obesity. I dont think taxing "fat people" is the answer. I would be supportive of tax on fast food though, although I think it would be problematic to implement.

Tax deductions for gym memberships, sports registration, etc is a given. I'm surprised it hasnt been done already.

[sonicbum]

i asume they mean the consumer paying more tax at the time of purchase, NOT fat people paying more taxes, lol...





kinda related>>>

i think insurance companies should give individuals a discount if they can show that they go to the gym at least once a week....makes sense in my opinion..

[Taekwondo Guy]

Put a tax on fast food the same they do tobbaco here...

i think health insurance should be brought in here, it might give some people a kick up the ass if they knew they had to pay for their binge eating crap diet in the form of hospital fees or insurance premiums

[Beatin Guts]

i'm a supporter of the fat tax take that

[wweforme]

Lets make it happen!