Slim Down With the Fat Tax

The new line of obesity-targeted health measures has been in effect for about 20 days in Denmark and the news is sweeping the world. It is called the fat tax. The fat tax places food items into particular tax-brackets based on the amount of fat that it takes to make that product. So, such items as butters, higher-fat milks, meats and so on will now see an increase in prices. The purpose of such large measures are to target the issue of the lower life-span in Denmark.

Now, it's not just the fat tax that is in effect and it's not just fat that's being taxed. There has been other itemized measures put in place to deter obesity related illnesses and preventable deaths. Denmark also has the sin tax, taxes on high-sugar delights. Other taxes such as the familiar tobacco/cigarette related taxes have been in effect for some time now. With the frontal attack on obesity and preventable death from poor diet and nutrition in full swing, we can only wait to see what country is the next to join the battle and what the trending results will say.

Lastly, what's with the roll-out of such heavy taxes? It's because we're addicted. From Radio New Zealand International[1]

Dr Kelly Brownell [Yale University] says there are two problems with unhealthy food.

“It tastes really good and it acts on the brain in such a way that it keeps us wanting more of it. Plus the foods are the ones most heavily marketed by the industry because these are foods that people over-consume. So something needs to be done to change that incentive structure and changing the price could be one thing that could do that.”

So, readers - for such a hard-headed nation as America, do you feel this could ever hold any water?

[1] http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=63839