The obesity rates in the United States relatively stay between 20 to 30 percent, with Mississippi in the lead at 34 percent. California is actually among the states with the lowest obesity issues at 24 percent, and even then, I feel like I see cases of obesity pretty damn frequently everyday.
So it’s obvious that obesity has become a problem around the world. People are getting fatter, and some countries — like Sweden — want to do something about it.
Denmark has already implemented a “fat tax,” and Sweden is considering doing the same thing.
“Sweden has never before seen as much obesity and overweight people, and it’s a problem that costs 20 billion kronor ($2.9 billion) per year,” Karolinska Institute’s Claude Marcus said. “Type 1 diabetes continues to increase and we don’t exactly know why, but we know that your lifestyle certainly affects it.”
Obesity is harmful in many more ways than one — mentally and physically — but when it comes to taxing food just because they are “fatty,” our government just shouldn’t get involved.
First of all, some people may need “fatty” foods in their diet for whatever medical reason. A tax over something they can’t control just isn’t fair.
Also, our government isn’t our babysitter. It’s considerate that it would go through such lengths for our better health, but a “fat tax” just seems like a rushed solution to the growing obesity epidemic.
I wouldn’t say that obesity should be ignored as an issue, but it shouldn’t be taken care of in an irrational manner.
Moreover, some people of limited means base their meals not on nutrition, but on price. It may be better that they eat fatty foods than too small of rations.
I’m not going to argue that the government shouldn’t get involved because we can take care of the problem ourselves, obviously that isn’t the case, but in terms of taxing more, people are going to complain.
The biggest problem I have with a “fatty tax” is more along the lines of how hypocritical it would be — at least in the U.S. — to tax fatty foods.
I remember about six years ago when it was no longer mandatory to take physical education. Maybe actually enforcing physical education in grade, middle and high school would be a better solution, at least in California.
Or what about offering healthy lunch options in school? After all, most health habits develop during a kid’s childhood.
There are so many other ways that obesity can be regulated. If we are to be charged a “fat tax,” then I only hope every other contributing factor to obesity is adjusted as well. It would only make sense.
Sonia Guillen is a senior journalism major and opinions editor for the Daily 49er.
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