 Media Credit: 1stnews.org The next time you reach for the King-Size Snickers in the convenience store, there might be a fat tax added to the already large 10.25% sales tax in Cook County.
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The cost of obesity is estimated at about $117 billion every year according to a 2001 report done the US Department of Health and Human Services. This amount includes direct (diagnosis of illnesses associated with obesity, treatment, medication, and hospitalization) and indirect costs (loss of wages and premature death). With about 32% of the population being obese, it is clear that many Americans are increasingly leading a sedentary lifestyle that includes poor nutrition. To combat this economic toll, the government has since introduced fat taxes to help lower the consumption of unhealthy food. Recently, researchers at UIC's Institute for Health and Research Policy, have received $1 million grant, to study whether fat taxes will change people's dietary habits and lower rates of obesity.
According to senior research scientist, Lisa Powell, "the primary objective is to study the relationship between state-level taxes and food consumption and weight outcomes among children, adolescents, and adults." In this objective, researchers will also assess the relationship of these taxes on dietary quality and patterns, its effect on body mass index (BMI), and examine tax sensitivity on low income food stamp and non food stamp recipients. The conclusions of this study may be used to implement or increase current taxes on a variety of snacks and restaurant foods.
If the government were to raise taxes on unhealthy food, the revenue generated from this would be astronomical. In most states, the taxes generated from soda or other unhealthy foods go toward road and bridge reconstruction, funding county hospitals, or other public programs. The idea of food taxes becomes controversial when one takes into account the taxes that are currently in place. Currently the sales tax in Cook County is already 10.25p percent, which is the highest in the nation. Aside from the possibility of paying more taxes, another issue is the cost of buying healthy food. In general, it may be cheaper to buy a small bag of potato chips than to purchase a single piece of fruit.
It should be clearly understood that the cost of obesity is an economic burden, not only to the obese individual, but to other tax payers as well. The solution to reversing this problem should not only rely on increasing taxes, but should involve health educators along with government to educate people on the importance of a proper diet and physical activity. This solution should also include making healthy food more affordable, and accessible. Reducing obesity will not occur over night. Until funds are allocated toward making healthy food more appealing and budget friendly, many will still choose unhealthy foods as their main dietary preference.
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