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....

[Viviennemary]

Well a lot of unhealthy food is promoted. Sweets and crisps. Put a tax on them.

[McPie]

Technically I am over weight (BMI of 27) but I have a fair bit of muscle and I can bet that I am fitter and will work harder than the skinny girl standing next to at Metafit tonight!
So how should I be taxed?
I eat healthy and am currently training for a half marathon in October after taking 2 hours off my last years Tough Mudders time. I have 3 events in the 1st 6 months of next year, 22 miles running is part of the training plan for one of the events, and an ultra marathon (36 miles) next October with the view to doing The Wall (69 miles in 24 hours) in 2016!
So what scale do you suggest is used considering most athletes will come into the overweight/obese BMI category?

[BoulevardOfBrokenSleep]

I'll admit when I first read this I thought it was ridiculous.

However.

There is actually scientific evidence that financial incentives (even small ones) can motivate people to change their behaviour, even addictions. IIRC this has been used for smokers and possibly 'proper' drugs.

But the system would have to be transparent and really in-your-face, just a vague tax on unhealthy foods wouldn't cut it.

So you could set up a system to financially reward weight loss; like Weightwatchers except they pay you to come (if you lose weight) instead of vice versa. It'd probably work.

But I suspect the political will isn't there; it's too 'nanny state', and despite all the hoo-ha about us porkers bankrupting the NHS, the outgoings would be more than the savings.

[Iflyaway]

I think plane tickets should be paid by weight....

At 8.5 stone it,s horrendous having to sit next to an overweight person...

[Viviennemary]

These companies promoting unhealthy foods are making billions. Same as tobacco companies. That's why governments won't rock the boat. This will have to be tackled eventually. I don't know what the answer is. I was once slim I'm not now but I'm not blaming anybody really. It isn't a medical condition for me. But eating the wrong thing, sometimes bingeing, and not doing enough exercise.

[wanttosinglikemarycoughlan]

what about including 'external' costs in items
so disposable nappies should include a cost for landfill, high fat foods or other unhealthy foods include a donation to the nhs, foods with lost of packaging costs for landfill?
do you think it would be too complex?
I think there is a problem that the ones who make profit from items do not pay the real price

[coffeeslave]

Are we judging people as unhealthy just by how much they weigh? Because TBH that's not an effective measure - surely bodyfat %, blood pressure etc are better measures.

And yes, I'm personally vested in this because I work out 5 times a week and am on the borderline of overweight/obese if you go by weight alone, but pretty healthy otherwise.

[BoulevardOfBrokenSleep]

TeamEdward



You talkin' to me?

[coffeeslave]

I'm like McPie - to get back to the "normal weight" category I'd have to LOSE muscle and work out less. Will that make me more healthy?!?

[dawndonnaagain]

Me and my medication say sod off!

[fuzzpig]

I don't think it would make a difference to me. The only thing that is really motivating me is the fact I would love to have another baby.

[nigerdelta]

I would seriously consider supporting a sugary food tax. So plain pure sugar/honey/syrup would be sold as it is (not taxed). But any food that was more than, I dunno, 10% sugar in calories would have a snack tax (or just be banned). Folk could still make home-made cakes or have sugar in their tea, but other food would have sugar limits in the same way that we have industry salt limits.

[FloozeyLoozey]

Can we have tax cuts for non drivers? How many people are injured on our roads and how much does that cost the state?

[Nomama]

How about not paying people to eat healthily or taxing them if they don't but what about making healthy food easily available and cheap.

How about we help farmers grow fruit, veg of all shapes and sizes, not just the perfect specimens the we, the consumer, apparently want! Did anyone here ever got to a supermarket and complain their tomato wasn't properly round?

Can we also have healthy animals and farmers who can afford to keep them? How about we bring back the Milk Board (if you want a regulator) to start pushing some of the profits from your pint back towards the farmer, so he can at least cover his costs.

How about we have a concerted effort to get cookery classed back in schools - please no, not healthy eating or any of the tosh they are currently feeling so pleased about. But real cookery classes, with a proper teacher, and proper room, like we used to have.

Then you can tax junk food. Carrot and stick!

[Dolallytats]

I saw an article in a paper a while ago showing the increase in the sizes of ready made food products (crisps, scones, coffee etc). Every single one was at least double the size it was several years ago.

This means that we might think we are having a normal sized scone as a treat, but really we are eating a double portion of what we should be eating. This has distorted our views of portion sizes, and it has been done mainly by the manufacturers.

Trying to buy a normal size packet of crisps nowadays is impossible because, unless you get the multipacks, they are all double sized grab bags.

Although ultimately we all have to take responsibility for ourselves, this does not help.

[WatchingSeaMonkeys]

What do you class as "unhealthy".

I love to sit down with a 225g bag of Doritos & some Salsa, with a nice beer....

I also run, cycle, kayak & go to the gym.

Admittedly, I'd be a tad slimmer if I didn't eat the Doritos, but I can guarantee I'm fitter & healthier than a lot of inactive healthy eaters....

Why don't we just charge people to visit their doctor or hospital - that's worked in America......

[ChestyNut]

I would consider that discrimination OP

[Abra1d]

I'm just back from Rome and I noticed that there isn't as much junk food around in that city. Lots of delicious ice cream, of course, but that is made with full-fat everything and is perhaps more satiating. And it is charged at a reasonable price. Cappuccinos are in fairly small cups. Meal portions are not huge. And you are simply not assailed by muffins, McDs' Subway everywhere you go. The vans sell ice cream and sandwiches and a few smallish bars of chocolate. It's just more set up for sensible eating.

Though apparently Italian children are becoming more plump, too.

[emotionsecho]

Nomama I couldn't agree more with your post of 19.02, but I fear we are a long way from that sort of common sense thinking.

[Berryglitter]

Fat shaming again, ignorance is clearly bliss in some uninformed peoples lives (op). I pay tax on the monthly treat i have, on the odd packet of cigarettes I have etc. I eat healthier than most and exercise daily.

Fat shame all your want, I'm larger than family members, that's my body shape. I have 2 family members who are anorexic and have cost the nhs a small fortune in care... Shall we start judging them? Oh no of course not.

[Abra1d]

Why not get Jack whatser-name to do roadshows to show people how to cook cheaply and nutritiously?

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

Yes. The junk has to go.
Loads of crappy food stores could go.
And snack foods should be reduced in size. An individual packet of crisps is now pretty much like a family size bag these days!

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

H btw. YAbu IMHO. I don't think taxing people by weight is a good idea at all.

[SuedeEffectPochette]

No worries Poirrot - I didn't think you had aimed that at me but I did not want anyone else to take offence! I am not sure what the answer is really but interesting to hear the varied views!