Taxes on junk food will help promote healthier lifestyles

By Ira Zunin

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 08, 2011

~~<p>Last week, Denmark became the first nation to levy a fat tax at the register. Danes will now pay an extra 12 cents for a bag of potato chips and 40 cents more for a hamburger. People are accustomed to “sin” taxes for alcohol and tobacco. Are we ready for taxes on fat, salt and sugar?</p>
<p>The World Health Organization recently announced that chronic disease including heart problems, stroke and diabetes have now become the world’s leading cause of mortality, representing almost two-thirds of all deaths. As we reported earlier, unlike infectious disease, previously the leading cause of death, chronic illnesses start early, progress slowly and last a lifetime. They result in both a substantial loss of productivity and the need for a staggering amount of health care over time. The kicker is that so many chronic diseases can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle that includes lower fat, salt and sugar intake.</p>
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Last week, Denmark became the first nation to levy a fat tax at the register. Danes will now pay an extra 12 cents for a bag of potato chips and 40 cents more for a hamburger. People are accustomed to “sin” taxes for alcohol and tobacco. Are we ready for taxes on fat, salt and sugar?

The World Health Organization recently announced that chronic disease including heart problems, stroke and diabetes have now become the world’s leading cause of mortality, representing almost two-thirds of all deaths. As we reported earlier, unlike infectious disease, previously the leading cause of death, chronic illnesses start early, progress slowly and last a lifetime. They result in both a substantial loss of productivity and the need for a staggering amount of health care over time. The kicker is that so many chronic diseases can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle that includes lower fat, salt and sugar intake. Login for more...