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Obesity and its effects on americans
The risk and effects of fast food
The risk and effects of fast food
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In the past 60 to 70 years the fast food industry has been one of America’s bittersweet phenomenons. Its the foods that people undeniably crave served all in the matter of minutes at a beyond reasonable low cost, sounds almost too good to be true. With 60 million Americans served fast food everyday its safe to say its very enticing ( “Fast food statistics”, 2014). All the deliciousness aside, most rational individuals are aware of the underlying immoral results from frequent consumption of fast food. Giving way to the cliche, fitting perfect for fast food supporters, “Everything is good in moderation.” With all the recents cutbacks and reforms towards child obesity, currently one of the nations biggest epidemics, the thought of an increase of tax on fast foods has become a hot topic. With sugared soda beverages already banned from public schools and multiple programs implemented against our nations problems with child obesity, a tax on fast only seems like the next logical step towards resolving this issue. Opposers believe it will have minimal effect and its just another tax on the poor. With that said a substantial gain of tax revenue that the government would receive from this decision and reducing highly fattening food consumption amongst adolescence, there seems to be cognitive reason to enforce such a law. 44 percent of Americans eat fast food at least once per week (“Fast food statistics”, 2014) and kids between the ages of 6 and 14 eat fast food 157 million times every month (Ransohoff Julia, 2013). Just in the past 3 decades the obesity rates in children have more than tripled (Kalaidis Jen, 2013). Needless to say, whether once a year or 3 times a week, fast food is a definitely part of most Americans nutrition. Acco... ... middle of paper ... ...ica. Works Cited "Fast Food Statistics." Statistic Brain RSS. Pew Research Center, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 20 May 2014. Kalaidis, Jen. "Should the U.S. Adopt a Fat Tax?" The Week. N.p., 25 Feb. 2013. Web. 20 May 2014. Melnick, Meredith. "Fast Food’s Biggest Customer: Not the Poor, But the Middle Class | TIME.com." Time. Time, 7 Nov. 2011. Web. 22 May 2014. Messerli, Joe. "Should Products Which Contribute to Obesity (Such as Big Macs and Krispy Kreme Donuts) Be Taxed?" BalancedPolitics.org - Fat Tax (Pros & Cons, Arguments For and Against, Advantages & Disadvantages). N.p., 11 Aug. 2011. Web. 20 May 2014. Pettinger, Tejvan. "Economics Essays: Fat Tax: Why We Should Tax Unhealthy Foods." Economics Help. N.p., 14 July 2007. Web. 22 May 2014. Ransohoff, Julia. "Fast Food." Doctors, Patient Care, Health Education, Medical Research. N.p., Oct. 2013. Web. 20 May 2014.
Drenkard, S. (2010). Overreaching on Obesity: Governments Consider New Taxes on Soda and Candy. Retrieved from http://heartland.org
Ruskin, Gary. "The Fast Food Trap." Mothering No. 121. Nov./Dec. 2003: 34-44. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
“This Article constructively critiques the two arguments that public health advocates have made in support of anti-obesity soda taxes or junk food taxes. Part II discusses and critiques the first argument, an economic externalities argument that government should tax soda or junk food to internalize the disproportionately high health care costs of obesity. Part III discusses and critiques the second argument made by public health advocates, that government should adopt anti-obesity measures to improve population-wide health. Consider possible unintended consequences of anti-obesity proposals. Obesity policy debates present a conflict of fundamental values, such as health, fairness, efficiency, and autonomy. Part TV attempts to reconcile these values and responds to the "personal responsibility" objection to soda taxes and food taxes. Part V considers various factors that would affect behavioral responses to proposed soda taxes and food taxes and addresses concerns that such taxes would be regressive and thus unfair to low-income consumers. Part VI suggests the way forward for public health advocates, including a proposal to enact a tax on nutritionally poor foods and drinks, paired with a salient benefit. This Part also recommends enactment of a federal system of food classification, based on nutrient-profiling methods, along with a federal system of front-of-package nutritional labeling.” (Pratt)
Researchers at the University of Stony Brook comment on America’s susceptibility to becoming a “fast food nation:” “In a society that functions at a high speed, fast food has quickly been adopted as the preferred food of choice” ("Stony Brook University- The Heart Links Project"). However, they later go on to note that ...
The obesity in the UK is the highest in Europe and according to dozens of researchers the rate would possibly increase sharply in the next few years. Obesity is due to an unhealthy lifestyle, too much junk food and lack of activity. Poor health leads to many diseases such as high blood pressure heart disease, cancer, etc. Obesity impacts people’s living standard and also effects wider society. With the aim of preventing the rise of obesity, governments have taken action by introducing a new fat tax, a tax which is focused on high sugar content food. In this essay I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of fat tax, and conclude with my opinion.
Campoy A.2010.taxes should be imposed on junk food to encourage healthy eating.http://www.sciencedaily.com.100224142046.html date of access 20 may 2014
When it comes to the topic of a Fat Tax for being overweight in the United States, most of us will readily agree that people should not be taxed for being overweight or obese. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the topic of how overweight and obese people will have a higher risk of health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and/or a stroke. Being taxed for being overweight is outrageous because they could be suffering from depression or have an eating disorder, but it is true that some of them could be really lazy and just eat a lot. There are multiple reasons why someone can be overweight or obese, it just depends on their life style and the way they eat. Having a fat tax for overweight people is also considered
So far, implementing real life fat taxes has been a lot of trial and error. There have been very few fat taxes implemented in the world, and many have been unsuccessful. An example from Denmark shows how fat taxes fail as a result of improper administration. Denmark initiated the world’s first fat tax, and it has been used for the precedence of many studies. Their tax had an applied surcharge to foods containing 2.3 percent or more of saturated fat (Good Morning America 1). The tax was 16 kroner per kilogram or $2.90 per 2.2 pounds (Good Morning America 1). Even the final proposal for the Denmark fat tax was flawed because people believed the taxes on meat did not match up to the quality of meat
Fat taxes have been experimented with in numerous European countries. There are many benefits such as boosting economic growth, improving health and elongating life expectancy. On the contrary if a fat tax is implemented into a weak economy it could cause the loss of jobs due to higher prices. These higher prices cause local consumers to begin to purchase their unhealthy products in different states or countries, causing the loss of business for local industries. France, Hungary and Denmark all have experimented with the enactment of a fat tax. All four countries experienced varied results with both positive and negative outcomes.
More tax on fatty foods will discourage some buyers from buying foods that don't really help for there health. Increasing the price for fatty foods may decrease the demand them. If that happens it will increase the demands for foods that cost less which might include healthier foods for the consumer. "Many foods that mightObesity causes a greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and angina of which a junk food tax would help pay to offset in terms of the
The Fat Tax Act that is being adopted around the world, while also being rejected by many people has imposed a tax on foods high in fat and sugar contents. A Fat Tax might work in theory but it would have multiple real life setbacks considering a Fat Tax would add to the hunger epidemic in poorer communities, while not effectively curbing sugar and fat consumptions as people continue to purchase cheaper, less healthy food. All around the world in low-income communities, the people spend most of their income on food. It was believed to be beneficial in the universal fight against obesity, but it will have deeper repercussions. Many people around the world are standing up against the Fat Tax, further proving that it is overall a better idea
Many people eat fast food due to their low prices. Advertisement greatly inspires Americans to try the latest burgers or meals. It is known that anything that is not good for consumers is more likely to result in an increase in taxes. Raising the tax makes a certain product increase in price so it will be less affordable for the consumer to consume and more likely to stop purchasing it, and it will decrease the chances for the consumer to suffer health problems or deceases. Higher tax on unhealthy food can benefit America and it’s proven that it will
Foods should not be taxed because “Many people believe that other factors contribute to the health of an individual which means that being obese is not necessarily the only factor to consider.” Most of the time if you are trying to loss weight or don’t want to gain it you have to exercise, drink water and eat healthier. Well so does Everyday Health. They said “So walk a little more, eat a little less — and do what you need to do to maintain your health.” This is necessary to mention because it shows that you can’t “Blame” the unhealthy foods. It isn’t just their fault that people are obese. You have to take into consideration not just one thing but everything. Are you walking enough, drinking water, and
Fast food has helped many Americans with their day-to-day schedules. The fast food industry has created economic dependence; thus, forcing American society to have no other easy on-the-go food options. The food is convenient, cheap, and good tasting. Yet, just because the food is so easily accessible and good tasting, does not mean that it is the best for the people consuming
Driskell, J.A., Mekna, B.A., & Scales, N.E. (2006). Differences exist in the eating habits of university men and women at fast-food restaurant, Nutrition Research, 26, 524-530. Gallagher, D. (2012). What are the most popular fast food restaurants in America? TSMInteractive. Retrieved 20 May 2012 from http://tsminteractive.com/popular-fast-food-restaurants/