Should the UK Put a Tax on Foods that Make You Fat?

A new study that was published in The Lancet journal in the UK suggests that if a tax was to be put on junk food, then this might help to reduce the number of people in the UK who are grossly overweight.

Labelled as the "fat tax", which would be added to the price of foods that are unhealthy, plus the implementations of restrictions on advertising for junk food, and better labelling of foods, could all be cost effective ways to help reduce obesity.

A "fat tax" alone is thought to be enough to encourage people to start to eat healthier, but will it work in practice?

Similar restrictions on advertising plus high taxes have been placed on tobacco products for years, and yet have still not been effective in stopping many people from smoking cigarettes.

These ideas for helping to change the way that people eat are supported by experts at the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development and the World Health Organisation.

One of the primary proposals is to place the "fat tax" on those foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar, but the food industry is claiming that this sounds all too much like the "Nanny State", where the government dictates what people can and can't eat.

So what is your view on the idea of a "fat fax"?

How would you feel if your fast food and other unhealthy items were to cost more?

Would this make you think twice and look to buy other healthier foods instead, or would you just bite the bullet and continue to buy them anyway?

Sources:

The Daily Mail