Fat Tax

Should the Government Impose a "Fat Tax" on Junk Food?

by Barbara McCuen
Thursday, June 15, 2000

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. More than half of the population is overweight or obese and 300,000 Americans die each year of obesity-related causes. The public health cost is enormous: about $71 billion is spent annually on treating diet-related diseases.

Is the answer to start treating junk food like tobacco?

# 300,000 people a year die from obesity-related health conditions including heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

# Currently, 17 states and the District of Columbia levy taxes on soft drinks, candy and other foods of low nutritional value.

# The National Cancer Institute spends $1 million a year to publicize its 5-A-Day campaign urging people to eat more fruits and vegetables.

# McDonald's spends $1 billion on advertising, and soft-drink companies spend more than $500 million.

READ ON...

(by the way the picture above is the biggest in the world...click here to see more)