Will Taxing Soda And Pizza Solve The Obesity Epidemic?

Oh please. They just know they are guaranteed revenue from this because people will not cease to purchase these items. This is insulting. Why don't we improve school menus and put a bit more emphasis on the individual roles we have on our own lifestyles.

It would be nice to think it would work but I think the govt is just wanting to make more money... just my opinion

**** "What do you think of the idea of taxing soda and pizza as a way to decrease the obesity rate in the U.S.?" --Seriously, taxing 2 food items, now that's ridiculous -- as if anything else like hamburgers, fries etc. don't add to the problems. Sorry but taxing or charging more taxes on 2 items won't work, you'd have to completely get rid of them ALL not just those 2. **** "Would a tax on these items make you think twice about purchasing them for you or your family?" --- No, I know I need to take better control of my situation, but if the tax isn't that far fetch a gift card and coupons is all you need to get it back to the norm of what you'd regularly paid before. Of course, I'd slow down on getting them but when someone wants something no matter what the price, if they have the funds they'll get it ... high tax, low tax, or no tax!

I work in the food and restaurant industry and I think that taxing what people consume will make not one bit of change to their diet. I say this because the food that are natural and healthy are the most expensive and some are disgusting. Thus, consumers will choose to eat deliciously than healthy if both are expensive. I highly doubt that people will stop doing what pleasure them just like smoking and drinking. Cigarettes are up to almost ten dollars a pack and people are still smoking-even with the known hazard of smoking.

Here's an economic twist- What would happen to the loss of income to those in the business of servicing pizza or other such food that are to be heavily taxed? I am not a huge advocate of policing the people. I dont like sneaky forms of control. But thats as far as I can complain since I dont know of a workable solution either. My gut (pardon the pun) tells me this is not the right way but I also dont know what the right way could be yet.

GO FOR IT!!! Just like cigarrettes and booze, I don't eat it and don't need it. Tax away!!! Eating junk food is just as much a vice as smoking and/or drinking. And studies have shown that the number of people smoking does decrease substantially every time the price increases and you make it less convenient. Omitting that soda from your diet will not kill you but omitting fruits and veggies will. It's a fallacy that healthy food=more expensive. That's what you're brainwashed to believe.

Ok. Number 1. Who decides that 2 out of 3 Americans are "Overweight"? That seems a little extreme to me. Not everyone is a stick figure- and I am so tired of our country making it seem like that is the only form of healthiness. I'm not "obese" and I"m not rail thin either. I am healthy for crying out loud! Do I eat the occasional pizza? You betcha! Secondly- this tax is just about as ridiculous as taxing people more who tan. They will find any way to squeeze every extra cent from our pockets. No, I don't think its going to stop people from buying junk food. I have every confidence that the government doesn't believe it either...its just another excuse to take our money to pad their pockets.

wait...why target only soda and pizza? what happened to those greasy chinese take out foods? those BigMacs? they have got to be kidding me if they think taxing those things are going to stop obisity. the only thing that can help a person from being obese is themselves. if there is a will there is a way. stop making excuses for laziness.

Food Stamps and school lunches allow all types of junk foods and soda. Some of these people also get passes to go to local area food banks and many pass on fresh fruit and vegetables because; they are a bother. Jaime Oliver and his Food Revolution are on the right track. His community kitchen is teaching people how to cook fast, easy, and tasty fresh food. Not prepackaged foods. Taxing pizza and soda is not the problem. (Look at cigarettes, beer, and alcohol taxes?Who is getting all that tax money. Because many people are still drinking and smoking. Did those higher taxes really stop consumers?) HFCS, sugar, preservatives and additives are a problem. Why are some foods so addicting? Remember the commercial Lays... No One can eat just one..... Hmmmm., There should be more promotions out there to eat your colors......red, yellow. orange, green, purple, and so on.....

Taxing certain foods is NOT going to deter people from eating them. It is crazy the American people would allow the government to even talk about doing this. The government is trying to regulate our food consumption by taxes. huh, what??? To help people we need to establish better youth and community centers for our families. Have not just sports but mommy and me Yoga, teen dance, senior dancing, senior water aerobic, cooking classes for all ages, so on... BUT most importantly we need heath education in our schools!!! Many elementary schools have lost there PE programs. (As well as there art, music and computer education...) Taxing pizza and soda, what are people thinking...

Oh I don't think it will help out the Obesity Epidemic, If there is at all any % rate it will be very low, people are still gonna buy/pay for it. Sad but true! Just like a few people here said it, that there is Taxes on alot of other things. And it's still not making/helping us cut back or stop buying these things.

It definitely would not stop the obesity program. To be honest, I smoke - even with having to pay the extra $2 a pack in taxes. If it is something you want it will then be something that you will get. Prices have risen so much that I don't think I would even notice the difference if they did tax my sodas. I like what BlondieKAA has to say - eating healthy can be expensive and any incentives you would give me to do that would be great!

Using this taxation method will be difficult to regulate to begin with. Therefore, we should spend more time helping provide information for families on how to create healthy meals on a low budget because the majority of our population doesn't have excessive money to spend. This also effect the current food program provided in the education and welfare systems. If we want to fight the obesity epidemic occurring in the United States, we need to start with societal institutions and make them over because until we change how they operate, nothing big can occur.

I also think that the food stamp program should only allow Users to pick certain foods, non name brand , inexpensive healthy food, I strongly Believe that beggars can't be choosers and should just be happy to get healthy food instead of a bunch of junk! I think that if u make the food stamp program to comfortable people enjoy it to much and Want to stay on the program forever!

I think the most effective way to help americans will the battle against obesity Would be to change the lunch program in public schools Most children that attend public school eat junk and home and junk at school and don't get Proper nutrition, if schools would change their food and maybe offer parents some classes on how to cook healthier at home it could really make a difference.