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....

[QOD]

What about me then? I am 5ft, size 12/14 so NOT fat! but my BMI is 30.01 so I am technically obese/fat ..... Why the fuck should I pay more tax?

[weatherall]

As a fat person myself I think there should be higher tax in junk food, carry outs, sweets, cakes, chocolates, pastries.

If a pizza was £20 I wouldn't have developed such an addiction!

[QOD]

Maybe so weather all. Fruit and veg are soooooo dear

[iklboo]

So...OP's new tax law is passed. Everyone manages to get to a 'healthy' weight. Tax revenue drops due to fewer fat people.

Government changes weight acceptability levels after (government sponsored) research shows we're all STILL too fat, after all.......

[ArcheryAnnie]

I said this on another thread, but it seems to fit here, too: there is a link between being on a low income and weight. Cheap carbs and fat are what many people (including me, for years and years) use to fill up on. It isn't a coincidence that there are more fat people in low-income areas and the posher parts of town tend to be thinner.

The one time I found it easy to lose weight (before getting preggers put it all back on again, and then some) was when my income increased and I could afford to eat a lot better. But I still struggle, and am still fat, as my tastes were established by years of filling up on cheap carbs, fat and salt, and those are still the foods I gravitate to.

So, taxing fat people would only exacerbate the problem.

[Valsoldknickers]

Taxing overweight folk more because of their size would be unreasonable to me. Unfair, impossible to monitor etc

More taxes on the shitty food (sugar and fat content based) that contibute to weight problems would be far better.

[dawndonnaagain]

in which case what would be the point in taxing fat based foods?
This is part of the myth. It's sugar that is the problem, not fat.

[Valsoldknickers]

Does anyone know about Trans Fatty Acid then? I am of the understanding it is very bad for our health.

[SlicedAndDiced]

Actually I struggle with my weight and think that's a fab idea.

Well, not charging people based on their size, that's daft.

But increasing tax on high sugar, high fat, 'ready' food and decreasing the price of fresh fruit and veg etc. would be brilliant.

The times I have most struggled with my weight was when we were also struggling for money.

If you've got twenty quid in your pocket and you need to feed a family you are going to go for the basket full of crap over the few items of fresh healthy food every time.

[PhaedraIsMyName]

What about people who incur sports injuries? Should they pay more too?

[ChocolateAlmondMilk]

Yes, underweight people should be included, there are actually more health risks for underweight people. I don't think this is a particularly good idea for either parties, the under or overweight. BUT I think that it's the underweight who deserve it more, it's more often a choice thing, isn't it?

And what about the eating disordered among us, such as myself/dd? You can get overweight eating disordered people too.

[Nomama]

So... underweight, overweight, drinkers, smokers, richer, poorer, sports related injuries...

... see how the list grew in just a day or so. How many more 'untouchables' will we invent here and how many more would be ratified in law?

I told I was scared of this stuff! Now, maybe, you can see why.

[Lally112]

wouldn't really work for me I'm afraid. I don't earn enough to even pay tax.

[itsbetterthanabox]

So you want to punish poorer people for not having a body shape that you find acceptable. Cool op cool...