...Taxation of High Fat Foods It is no secret that foods that are high in fats, such as cakes, sodas, or any other sweets, can lead to health concerns. Obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease just to name a few, are some of the numerous health risks that could result from eating foods that are high in fats. Some suggest placing a tax on high fat foods to help raise awareness of the risks to an individual’s health, as well possibly deterring people from consuming too much of the fatty foods. Taxing foods high in fat because of the harmful risks they pose is almost as ridiculous as taxing people for taking baths because of the risk of drowning. Why not tax people when there is a thunderstorm, for the risk of being struck by lightning. People already understand the risks of eating such foods, but yet, we still live in a country that leads the world in obesity. There is already taxes on almost everything we purchase anyway, to add a separate tax on foods that are not as healthy as other foods is just another way to tap into our pockets. In 2012 New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg proposed a bill to ban the sale of sugary drinks that exceeded 16 ounces. This was an attempt by the mayor to increase awareness of the health risks of consuming too much sugary drinks and foods, as well as make the citizens of New York City healthier. After the bill was passed there was an uproar from not only the American Beverage Association, and the entire soft drink industry, but also New Yorkers far...
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...attempt to reduce America’s sugar consumption in response to the dramatic rise in obesity over the last thirty years. The first target is adults and the sugar beverage industry, particularly, the consumption of regular sodas. I will detail four specific policy proposals that the government should consider on the sale of regular soda: taxes, subsidies, provisions and restrictions. In various outcomes, each policy could provide incentive for individuals toward a healthier lifestyle. Sugar is on the road to becoming America’s next controlled substance. Background: The United States is currently in a dangerous cycle of sugar consumption and disease with nearly two out of every three adults categorized as overweight or obese.(Figure 1,2) Among those characterized, their bodies were given a surplus in calories without an equal response of physical activity. Obesity restricts productivity, lower one’s quality of life, and reduces life expectancy. The excess body fat results in significant health problems such as an increased risk of developing high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, depression and even orthopedic problems. Additionally, the society bears the bulk of the costs associated with America’s extra pounds. Cawley and Meyerhoefer estimated health care costs accumulated up to $209.7 billion a year treating obesity-related health conditions, and this is a large jump compared to the averaged $38 billion obesity costs in the mid ‘80s. These outcomes should be of no surprise to Americans...
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...I am affected by this regulation is that I am a health care worker who is extremely worried about people today and how they eat. This does not directly affect my profession, but I can hope that children who eat healthier will grow to make better food decisions, thus cutting down on the epidemic of obesity. The regulation proposal is to change the current school nutrition guidelines to match with the 2005 “Dietary Guidelines for Americans”. The recommendation comes from the National Institute of Medicines report “School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children”. The proposed regulation would increase availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat milk with school nutritional programs. It is also proposed to change the levels of allowable sodium and saturated fats in the food choices. My comment is that nutritional programs are a benefit to children’s growth. Currently there are children who come from impoverished homes and they count on school meals for complete food nutrition. It is also vital to at a young age participate in healthy food choices for future healthy eating habits. Thus, this program should help in the long run with reduction in obesity. Reducing healthcare expenses. I wish to have them consider this new regulation. Comments need to be postmarked by April 13th, 2011 for consideration in this matter. One argument could be that the due process is an issue. Not all children participate in school lunches therefore not all would...
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...Over the past years, the obesity epidemic has been becoming more of a problem in the United States. In 2010, one-third of children and adolescents were deemed overweight. This fact alone should be very scary as this generation holds the future of our nation in their hands. Obesity is an issue that should be a focus for nutritionist, economic analysts and all those concerned about the future of this nation. It has been proposed that taxing sugar sweetened beverages would solve the obesity problem in the United States. It is important for everyone to begin fighting obesity now before it gets worse. Obesity leads to diseases such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Coronary Artery Disease, Coronary Vascular Disease, Heart attack, stroke, and even...
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...Ethical issues with Obesity Prevention Policies in the United States In the United States, growing concern about obesity and unhealthy eating has lead to promote policy efforts to promote healthier eating. The federal government, as well as state and local governments, have proposed and implemented variety of policies to increase consumption of healthy food and reduce overconsumption of unhealthy food. Some examples of such policies are- bans on trans-fat in restaurants, nutritional requirements for fast food meals marketed as children’s meals, proposed taxes on sugary drinks , proposal by New York City to limit sales of sugary drinks, policies limiting the density of fast food restraint and many more. The obesity prevention policies have many ethical arguments for and against them. The two core ethical concerns are-ethical concern with individual autonomy, and ethical concern with equality. There is disagreements too that which dimension, equality or autonomy have priority and also that is it justifiable for government policies to diminish equality or autonomy along one dimension in order to increase it on other dimension. Ethical concern with equality of obesity prevention policy- The obesity prevention policy is concerned about fair distribution of multiple things like health, income, financial spending on healthy food, geographic access to healthy food and many more. But it is seen that none of these are equitably distributed in U.S.A. There are inequalities which...
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...Fat Tax in the United States Abstract The United States has one of the least healthy populations in the entire world. That seems out of skew because we are also considered one of the most powerful. In the near future we will have a universal healthcare program that will basically enforce everybody to have health insurance of some sort. You would think you would want this for a nation on route to good health. This is not the case now, but there is one way in starting the path. Fat Tax in the United States The United States of America is the most obese nation in the world. In the United States obesity is estimated to cause an excess 111,909 to 365,000 deaths per year, while 1 million (7.7%) of deaths in the European Union are attributed to excess weight. Not only is obesity taking lives, it is the cause of numerous health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Our country, as a whole, needs to start being more careful about what our bodies intake. Various ways have been introduced in doing this. The majority of them would not be enforced and are typically in the form of a dieting or a workout regimen. Yeah, like everybody wants to do that. One of the most overlooked ways in reducing health risks in America is implementing a tax on fat of all things. It seems a little far-fetched at first but many would be surprised how genuine of an argument this is. The idea of a fat tax is so obscure to many. This is probably because it has never been in effect...
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...of practice and guidance. Similarly, food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation and storage of food to prevent foodborne illness. Though similar, the differentiating factor is that food safety informs food regulations. Consider food safety as the assessment and food regulation as the management and communication domains to reduce risks. The current piece will evaluate the scope of food regulation and look at how it has been developing over the years. The current piece highlights the mechanism of food regulation, explores major players and shares several differentiated case studies to further navigate food regulation problems and implementations. Over the course of history, food regulations, both proposed and implemented, have represented the primary concerns that arose during a certain period of time. Food regulation has been enforced since 300 BCE and since then, one of the most important food regulations was enacted in 1906 through the Pure Food and Drugs Act. The Pure Food and Drugs act prohibited interstate commerce of misbranded and adulterated food, drinks, and drugs (U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2012). In 1906, the use of synthetic chemicals in food processing and labeling of food products arose. When food manufacturers misused these two components, such as adulterating food by using chemical additives that were deemed harmful to the health of consumers, this act was implemented to prevent...
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...addicted to cigarettes (Adage.com, 2016). McDonalds should used Ron’s image in a different way, promoting healthy food and activity, less focus on the food even and focus on charitable work. Ronald is among top 25 mascots of all times. (DailyFinance.com, 2016) Ronald McDonalds should make visits to schools to educate students about the importance of eating healthy and staying active. Even addressing moderation of unhealthy foods and portions control. This will help to improve Ronald image in a positive way as the mascot. 2) Discuss the merits of the law proposed by France that would require fast-food companies either to add a health message to commercials or to pay 1.5 % tax on their ad budget. Propose a strategy for McDonald's to pay the tax or add health message and defend your recommendation. The French law will force food marketers to choose between adding a health message to commercials and paying a 1.5 percent tax on their ad budgets to fund healthy-eating messages. (Adage.com, 2016) Other bans may also be placed on using celebrities and cartoon characters from food ads to entice children and preventing food marketers from using jingles aimed at children. I believe this is a smart strategy; it gives the food marketers the freedom to choose between paying or advertising about healthy foods. I think that most of them would choose to add a health conscious message rather than cut in their profits. In my option...
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...Macronutrients and Obesity: Revisiting the Calories in, Calories out Framework July 19, 2013 Daniel Riera-Crichtona and Nathan Tefftb Abstract: Recent clinical research has studied weight responses to varying diet composition, but the contribution of changes in macronutrient intake and physical activity to rising population weight remains unknown. Research on the economics of obesity typically assumes a “calories in, calories out” framework, but a richer weight production model separating caloric intake into carbohydrates, fat, and protein, has not been explored. To estimate the contributions of changes in macronutrient intake and physical activity to changes in population weight, we conducted dynamic time series and structural VAR analyses of U.S. data between 1974 and 2006 and a panel analysis of 164 countries between 2001 and 2010. Findings from all analyses suggest that increases in carbohydrates are most strongly and positively associated with increases in obesity prevalence even when controlling for changes in total caloric intake and occupation-related physical activity. If anything, increases in fat intake are associated with decreases in population weight. JEL classification codes: I12, I15, O13, Q18 Keywords: Obesity, Macronutrients, Health Production a Department of Economics, Bates College, Lewiston, ME 04240, USA Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, and Department of Economics, College of Arts and Sciences (beginning September 1, 2013)...
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...School-based Prevention of Childhood Obesity Issue With half of all school-age children (age 2-19) identified as Obese or Overweight (Institute for Alternative Futures, 2008, p. 1) the issue of unhealthy weight has become a critical concern. The market has failed to foster among children the habits required to maintain healthy weight. Therefore, it is essential that the local schools implement programs designed to reduce this occurrence. Specifically, the school district should focus on: 1) healthy eating education, 2) physical activity among students, 3) an emphasis on nutrition in meals offered to students. Background Obesity is widely recognized as one of the USA's leading public health problems. “Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a calculated value based on calculations using weight and height, is used to differentiate between the overweight and the obese. Adults with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are defined as overweight; adults with a BMI of 30 or above are considered obese.” (Buckle, 2011) Obese and overweight people experience chronic illness, poor health, and more than 100,000 preventable deaths each year. For the average affected individual, obesity has a much greater impact on health status and health care costs than either smoking or heavy drinking. In general, it can be say that root causes of Childhood Obesity are: 1) Families are living in poverty: Low-income communities have the highest rates of overweight and obesity. Low-income communities are often underserved...
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... On September 8, in an attempt to curb obesity, the Mexican government proposed a one-peso tax (eight cents) for every liter of sugar-sweetened beverages. This way, Mexico follows Denmark, Hungary and France, and could become the fourth country to establish a tax of this kind. According to a 2012 national survey, almost a third of Mexican adults are obese, while nearly 40% are overweight, making it the fattest industrialized nation. The government, as well as some NGOs, argues that the tax will increase soft drinks prices, resulting in a decrease of their demand and a shift toward healthier products. At the same time, they want the revenue collected to be use in preventive campaigns. It may look like a great policy, but in my opinion it will not work here are four reasons why: 1) Bottled soda is the sixth most important product between foods and beverages for the average Mexican household, with 1.14% of the income being spent on it; milk has a share of 1.44% and beer occupies the first place with a share of 1.59%. Beer is harmful and is already highly taxed but still widely consumed, what would make soft drinks different? 2) For low-income families, soft drinks represent a necessity that provides cheap calories relative to healthier, more expensive products. The demand for soft drinks for these families is more inelastic to changes in price than for other households, meaning they will keep buying them. Therefore, the tax will strike them harder, making it regressive...
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...the constant bombardment of controversial television commercials is all around us. It's hard not to notice the non-stop flood of commercials that are aimed directly at children. These commercials encourage today's children to purchase all types of unhealthy food items, as well as toys and clothing. Not only are these food items full of fat and sugar, I cannot go to a toy store or clothing store without my children asking specifically for items promoted through television commercials. My children have even asked for certain types of fast food restaurant to receive a desired happy meal toy. Food products are the most commonly advertised item during peak hours of children's TV watching. A study of broadcasting during the peak hours of children's television watching found that 16% of the time was consumed with ads. Almost half of the ads were related to food (food products, restaurants, and beverages). The nutritional contents of the foods advertised weren't good. Almost 70% of the foods advertised were high in sugar, 40% were high in fat, and 20% high in salt. About 9% of the foods advertised were classified as healthy (low in sugar, fat, and salt). (Pediatrics for parents 1997) Not coincidentally, childhood diabetes is on the rise. Dr. Robin S. Goland, co-director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, told the New York Times that "With the numbers we are starting to see, this could be the beginning of an epidemic"(Thompson 1998). In a society in which children are becoming...
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...English 111-42B 28 Oct. 2013 Paper 3 MLA Obesity Obesity is a problem that has been on the rise for many decades. Not only is it starting at a young age, it is starting to affect the health of many around the world. There are many health concerns related to the topic of obesity, over nourishment can also cause obesity and health concerns. A lot of people like to blame an excessive amount of food consumed as part of them being obese. One does not have to eat a large portion of food with dense caloric intake to fill the need of hunger. Obesity relates to many health factors today in the United States, which can lead to health problems and eventually death if not controlled immediately. Not only can certain health concerns cause obesity, obesity can cause heath concerns. There are many ways to help prevent obesity, and this paper will show a few examples. Many health concerns related to obesity are as follows: diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and sleep apnea and/or respiratory problems ("What Are"). While this is not a full list of health concerns or problems caused by obesity, these are only a few listed. In today’s society, food is typically generated around convenience of food. Many individuals or families find it hard to have a prepared meal every evening. Of course it is easier to consume a pizza from Pizza Hut or an oven baked pizza opposed to a baked lean chicken. Yes, they are both filling, but one is more convenient for a family who works and gets...
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...pressure on these factors, particularly any political factors through the intelligent use of political lobbying. Proper understanding of these factors allows the organisation to highlight areas of business opportunity when combined with proper understanding of the business’ strengths, and also potential threats to the business when combined with a proper understanding of the firm’s weaknesses (Baines et al, 2011). Thus, for effective strategic planning, analysis of the external factors is the most important step before performing an analysis of the business’ intrinsic strengths and weaknesses through a SWOT analysis. Political The fast food industry is often a target for government initiatives aimed at improving health and reducing obesity, particularly in European countries. In 2003, after the publication of a report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) on the link between general levels of salt intake among the UK population and heart...
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...CASE 27 McDonald’s and Obesity THE PROBLEM Governments and influential health advocates around the world, spooked that their nations’ kids will become as fat as American kids, are cracking down on the marketers they blame for the explosion in childhood obesity. Across the globe, efforts are under way to slow the march of obesity. In the United States, roughly 30 percent of American children are overweight or obese. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 64.5 percent of Americans tip the scales as overweight or obese, the highest percentage of fat people of any country in the world. However, adults and kids in other countries are catching up. THE WORLD The World Heart Federation reports that globally there are now more than 1 billion overweight adults and that at least 400 million of those are obese. An estimated 155 million children are overweight worldwide including 30–45 million who are obese.1 In many countries, the worst increases in obesity have occurred in young people. About half a million children in Europe are suffering classic middle-aged health problems because they are too fat. Obesity among European children has been on the rise over the last 25 years. The number of overweight children in Europe did not change much from 1974 to 1984; then the rate started to creep up during the next 10 years, and it exploded after 1995. In Britain, one in five children is overweight or obese; in Spain 30 percent;...
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