In the midst of an obesity epidemic in this nation, new research poses a question: would obesity outcomes improve if the price of a calorie was raised through a taxation? Prepared by a private, nonprofit bureau, new research was conducted using measures of body fat from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (a program run by the Centers for Prevention and Disease Control), the prices of 21 grocery items, as well as prices for three fast-food items.
Many experts have often noted the low food price of junk food, fast food and sugary drinks, indicating that price is a factor in less healthy dietary choices. Fast food is quick and easy, and the low price makes it all the more tempting. The notion was researched to study the idea of how that choice might change if taxes increased the price of unhealthy food. Would it be enough to push people into healthier choices?
This new research indicates that a raise in fast food prices would help in deterring youth. On the whole, younger people who are just starting out have less spending money. The notion that raising the prices of fast food could affect obesity levels is where the drive in these proposals come from. From this, taxing such foods, along with government farm subsidies reductions have been proposed.
Of course, questions still arise. Would a price change be enough to affect the overall diet of people?
Studies, however, also show that differing groups of people (female and male, white and non-white) react differently to increases of food prices. Males are least affected by the price of fruits and vegetables, as their body fat does not see a significant effect. The study revealed, however, that the percentage of body fat for whites is more responsive to the price of vegetables and fruits than for non-whites.
Additionally, questions come into play about forcing people to pay more for food. Is this fair to those who already struggle? How would this new tax affect those already needing tax relief?
Furthermore, some nutritionists suggest a tax on calories is perhaps too broad. Some suggest a tax that distinguishes between "good" and "bad" calories rather than a tax that focuses simply on calorie number. Some healthy, highly nutritious foods are high in calories. Should they be exceptions to the rule? Many experts feel that by taxing caloric numbers the price of many staples could become out of reach for those in lower economic range and could cause issues for those already seeking tax relief from other high taxes.
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