To think fat people should pay higher taxes?

[SuedeEffectPochette]

Ok - I have grabbed your attention! I don't exactly mean this. The other day I was just wondering about the obesity crisis and thinking, - I would be a lot more motivated to lose weight if it knocked a penny off my income tax. I am obese, by the way, so I am not knocking fat people considering that I am one. But would this work? "Normal" weight people pay less income tax? I would definitely lose weight if it meant I paid less tax!! OK - it would take a bit of monitoring but I bet loads of people would lose weight and save money! I would. I am trying to lose weight anyway, but money would be good for motivating....

[ReigningQueen]

I think the manufacturers of crap food should be taxed more heavily.

[Frontier]

It might work - health problems are something that happen to other people, so being obese might increase the risk of heart disease etc, but I'll be one of the lucky ones and it won't happen to me whereas increased taxed would be a certainty. I'm not saying it's a good idea but the comparison to the motivation of losing weight to save your life is flawed because people don't think it applies to them, just to others.

It's like sunbathing. We know it causes cancer but many people also thinks a tan makes them look good. The message that it will give them wrinkles is a far higher motivator to use suncream etc than the possibility that they might get cancer, because they might not.

I agree with you birds that the definition of "junk" needs a lot of work. e.g my Dc's school sometimes serve an ice lolly for desert. It's fat, sugar and salt free and therefore meets all the healthy eating guidelines.... Not sure how you can tax a company without it being passed onto the customer though.

[TurboWithAKick]

Wel I said the shops/chains should be heavily taxed.... By that I meant for their poor menu choices. So if they are selling burgers, doughnuts... Etc then they pay a heavier tax.

But then I think that would still leave macdonalds as king and all the other places go bust.

[Frontier]

And it would be the same thing as directly taxing the products anyway Turbo because they'd just increase prices to compensate.

[BabyMarmoset]

We could start by removing the VAT exemption on

Chocolate chip biscuits
Jaffa cakes
Cream Gateaux
Mousse
Chocolate spread
Toffee apples
Milkshake
Tortilla or corn chips
Roasted or salted nuts supplied in shells e.g. monkey nuts, pistachios

-list from thisismoney.com

[SuedeEffectPochette]

So at least if they did tax the products it would be a 'fair" tax wouldn't it? Because you can choose if you buy a doughnut or not.... Let's heavily tax sugar then - that's the answer....tax it so much that we can increase benefits and reduce taxes!

[ParsingFlatly]

You probably missed my question, but are you also planning to tax the underweight?

I'm serious.

I've just been dealing with the effects of undereating in an elderly relative, who was living alone, cooking for one on a budget, and not eating healthily enough. Their poor nutrition was causing health problems - but they aren't FAT. So don't seem to come in for the level of [tilts head] concern that overweight people get.

[scarletoconnor]

Yep we should tax fat people and
Smokers and
People who drink and
Anyone who eats any food other than food recommended by our dear government and
Anyone who takes part in extreme sport and
Anyone who works regular night shifts

These are all 'risk' taking behaviours who gets to decide which 'risks' are socially acceptable and which are not.

[Frontier]

Hasn't that been suggested by someone in government very recently Suede. Great idea IMO but the Sugar industry is huge, a big employer, has loads of influence etc etc. In fact, it's the reason we were brainwashed into thinking low fat is good for us. I have a colleague who actually thinks Jaffa Cakes are good for her "but they're only 1% fat"

[Birdsgottafly]

Turbo, that's what I think.

Large chains would rule and find other ways to lie to their customers about their ingredients.

Parks have always had ice cream vans in/around them, they shouldn't be taxed into oblivion.

My Mum is 86, she has always eaten cake/desert at least twice a week, she shouldn't pay more for this.

All that would happen is Poundland etc would find new ways to avoid tax and children will still be fed junk, instead of food.

[liz5029]

Right, because society and the media aren't prejudice enough against fat people!

Me and goitre and my PCOS think you are being vvvvv unreasonable

If you can lose weight and but you only would for money, then I think you need to look at why that is, instead of assuming the rest of us feel the same way

[vickibee]

Don't think hmrc could police this, your tax code for next year is FAT.

Fat food should be taxed higher , eg takeaway and sugary drinks, chocolate

[LadySybilLikesCake]

I've just been to the coop for some wine lentils and carrots. 5 apples cost £1.25, 4 bananas 61p and 5 satsumas were £1.08. I also bought 8 kitkats for £1 and 10 club bars for £1.75. It's more expensive to buy the fruit, especially if you have a family and they eat fruit every day. They need to make the junk more expensive, and the fruit and veg cheaper.

[WorraLiberty]

That sounds like madness OP

So if someone gains weight and tips the scale at (insert amount), they will then have to pay more tax?

[WorraLiberty]

your tax code for next year is FAT

[mupperoon]

I suppose I am saying that the tax system should be more sophisticated than it is.

The last thing we need is a more "sophisticated" tax system. It's already far too complex to work in a cost-effective manner.

[TurboWithAKick]

Would we get weighed at the end of the tax year for our new codes? Can you imagine the queues?

[TurboWithAKick]

How about advertisements

Banning the KFC/McDonald's/Burger King/haribo ads.... They make those things very attractive

Especially at the cinema! And the 'go large' option should be abolished

[emotionsecho]

The tax system is ridiculously complicated, hence people employing accountants to find the loopholes, etc., to add another layer would make it even worse.

I think there should be a way of taxing certain foods heavily and using the tax revenue from that to drastically reduce the price of better, healthier food without penalising the producers of healthier food, maybe even 'reward' these producers somehow. Trouble is all the ins and outs would be decided by people who would never in a million years come up with something simple, easy and straightforward, the processed/fast food lobby is very powerful, and there seem to be a number of different views on what constitutes healthy food so it would be a minefield.

I do wonder if the increased tax on cigarettes reduced the level of smoking or whether it was the change in societal acceptance of smoking, and the reduction of places to smoke, probably a combination of all three, but which was the main driver?

[VenusDeWillendorf]

I think sugary foods and drinks could be taxed quite effectively.

If you buy, you pay the tax.

If you eat healthily, the tax doesn't effect you.

The money collected could be used to provide the medical care that obese people will need, daily tests for blood sugars, injections, amputations, seeing eye dogs, careers to look after the skin folds, not to mention the supersize equipment needed: hoists, supersize wide chairs, wide beds, wide baths, wide seats, just about wide everything.

If those who smoke / drink are legally refused treatment by some health care providers, (for liver/ lung transplants etc) maybe it won't be long before obese people are refused treatment too, if they can't lose weight.

[BreeVDKamp]

And where do you draw the line? Better not be based on. BMI which is a crock of shit. I am very heavy!!!! wibble

[FrankSaysNo]

I pay shit loads of NI so you can have a gastric band. Why should I be taxed too?

[LapsedPacifist]

What a super idea!

Out family should be FORCED to SUFFER financially because my inconsiderate DH, with his selfish, incurable auto-immune disease, has gained weight whilst taking the steroids that are saving his life

Smart one OP. You're a star - have you ever thought of going into politics at all? You must have been right at the front of the queue when the brains were being dished out.

[HPparent]

I was in my GP's surgery recently and noticed an advert for a Weight Management Programme (NHS) that offered the services of a dietician, physio, psychologist plus other support. Surely if that sort of service were more widely available more people would get the help they need to lose weight.

In my opinion a lot of people are overweight because it is cheaper to fill up on bread or chips than to buy the ingredients for and cook a proper meal. I agree that fruit and veg should be cheaper and junk should be taxed more heavily.

[whatsthatcomingoverthehill]

What is the obsession with trying to force people to conform with certain behaviours? It is really starting to piss me off. Doctors always seem to be pushing for a tax on this and that, minimum pricing, plain packaging etc etc. Doctors are there to treat people who are ill, not govern people's lifestyles. Of course there should be education, and things like clearer labeling to enable people to make informed choices.

Taxing individuals who are overweight would clearly be abhorrent. But blanket 'sin' taxes are punitive on those who do things in moderation. Why should I have to pay more for a chocolate bar just because others over indulge?