Use Fat Tax to fight obesity

heavily taxing unhealthy foods may reduce weight gain and insulin levels over time, suggests a new, US-based study.

the study's investigators suggested that an 18% tax on selected foods and beverages would help reduce daily total energy intake among young to middle-aged adults by 56 kcal. this can be roughly translated into a weight reduction of 2.25kg per person per year, leading to significant improvements in obesity, diabetes and other nutrition-related disease (article from medical tribune, april 2010).

interesting perspective. if you have 'sin' taxes (alchohol, cigarettes), you have 'fat' taxes! higher priced fattening foods will reduce consumption (particularly for price sensitive consumers with limited spending capacity). this, however, will be heavily lobbied against by the giant food manufacturers. government wins both ways, improving health outcomes and earning revenues to support other expenses to promote healthy lifestyles.