Will Taxing Soda And Pizza Solve The Obesity Epidemic?

I honestly feel that the reason for the Tax is just another way to get more money Out of us, as if sales tax wasn't enough! It will be an effective way of collecting money Since most americans are overweight And will not give up their unhealthy choices. I personally am a bit of a health nut and I try to encourage My overweight friends to make healthy choices And simply enjoy all of the different and delicious Fruits and vegetables out there but I often hear them say That they just can't afford to eat healthy and that fast food is just so cheap That they always give in. My argument to them is That u can't put a price on health and even if u choose to so will ur doctor when he sends u a huge bill because u have A long list of health problems!

I think that taxing pizza and soda is such a shallow "solution" to obesity. The obesity problem does go a whole lot deeper than just this. I think that people who like to eat pizza and soda, whether in moderation or in excessive amounts, will still eat it. I love pizza (in moderation), and I don't think a tax would keep me from buying it. As a couple other people already pointed out, I don't think that penalties will keep people from buying unhealthy food. Instead, incentive programs would be much more motivating.

I think we should only allow food stamps/gov't subsidized food coupons to be used to buy healthy foods, NOT soda and items that are wholly devoid of nutrients, like soda. Ironically, when people use food stamps to buy soda, they DON'T pay sales tax b/c purchases using food stamps aren't charged sales tax.

Oh, if only it was that easy!! As many have already pointed out, taxing tobacco and liquor overall, has not been effective. Not having read the journal article, I'm not sure if the authors have already touched on the importance of intrinsic, or internal, motivation. Until someone is motivated from within to change their behavior, imposing external means, in this case a punishment of a tax, will not introduce lasting behavioral change. The only party that benefits from such an approach is the government (assuming State gov) because it will not result in reducing the obesity epidemic.

I think a tax on those items, particularly a federal tax, is an additional infringement of our rights. It will hurt business and cost jobs without helping anything. It is just an additional grab for power and control by the government.

people need incentives for purchasing healthy foods rather than penality for unhealthy choices.

I think it is just another way to get money from people who work to hard for it already. They tax tobacco and alcohol to the roof and people don't give them up. What makes them think that this will? Next are they going to tax resturaunt food at 2 cents and ounce too? What about all the other junk food. Will the portion police be next? Soon the taxes will be so much that we cant aford to buy anything.

People are going to eat what they are going to eat. Look at tobaco and alcohol. I like the idea of Jamie Olivers Community Kitchen where people can go to take free classes to learn about food and to cook, it also builds comminuty. Make new friends... maybe people would get out more, rather then eat more. I wish there were a library for exercise equipment or a place to get good quality supportive sneakers and workout gear for low income people.

This is not going to work. It doesn't work for tabaco, does it?

You would have to put a huge tax on this to keep people from purchasing & consuming. Plus, the issue I have is that it's not necessarily junk food that's causing people to gain weight. There is a lot more to it than just that. We need to exercise more and make smart decisions. There are plenty of skinny people that consume pizza and soda regularly. Why don't we make fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh dairy, and fresh whole grains less expensive!

Here is the logical problem I have with this...What if a really think healthy person is buying this stuff? How does the tax help them get any healthier and the other, what if I am buying a Lean Cusine pizza and a diet coke? Why should I pay tax on that? I really thing putting taxes on foods whether they are healthy or unhealthy is going to be too difficult for them to do. I think what they need to do first is start changing the poor quality of foods that's being served in our schools and start more wellness programs for people to learn how to eat better!

I think that the obesity problem goes way beyond soda and pizza. People need to get up and get moving; they also need to eat a lot healthier. The tax on cigarettes really didn't do as much to reduce smoking so I don't think that this will have the outcome that is hoped for. Taxing these items may slighty reduce purchases, but people will still buy these items if they want them. I don't buy soda so that will not affect me at all. I do buy pizza about once per month, sometimes twice, and will continue to do so. I'm Italian, I was weaned on pizza, have eaten pizza all my life and am not even slightly overweight!