Should fat people be taxed?

[David Black]

There was a program on yesterday suggesting the government should tax fat people given what they cost the state.

Given we tax drinkers, smokers and motorists why not the fat folk?

[yinyang]

David, I'm still waiting for you to explain to me how this tax is going to be implemented and collected.

You have obviously been extremely lucky in your life never to have anything to give up.every time somebody comes on AB saying they need help with losing weight there is always somebody who says ' it's easy - you just need to eat less' which is a very simplistic way of looking at things. Equally you could say to a smoker who wants to quit -'it's easy - just don't light anymore cigarettes'. You've got a drinking problem - easy just stop drinking alcohol'. Obviously there are more complex issues involved or else no-one would have addictions that are harmful.

For the record,i'm overweight and have not worked in four years. That was my choice because i wanted to be a full time mum and in all that time I have never received a penny in benefits or any medical treatment because of my weight. I'm losing weight now because I want to for myself and my children and I don't expect any help with that either. So I am not a drain on the state or a sponger.

[brachiopod]

I think what David is trying to say, is that he wants all people with a propensity towards the overweight side of things, to wear striped pyjamas with an embroidered burger symbol on the left breast. As they obviously don't conform to the 'norm', they must be such a drain on the state, and therefore must be 'controlled'.

Well, forget about taxation, how about sterilising all those with a genetic disposition towards obesity? No more fat kids, therefore, 20 years later, no more fat people clogging up your personally-reserved-only-for-decent-people-like-me NHS?

Take a hint from all those who have suggested that education may be part of the solution. In simplistic tabloid terms, you just read, (nay, expect), 'cause and effect', but not all people with poor diets are obese, and not all obesity results from poor diet.

Still, I could always suggest that we find a way to tax people with cars - those who go out shopping to out-of-town superstores to buy their manges-touts and sun-dried tomatoes, thus killing the trade in all of our local streets dead, leaving just a few boarded up shops, a chip / kebab shop and a heavily fortified off-license - leaving those with no transport a choice of a pretty poor selection of fast-food or tinned vegetables from the one remaining corner shop.

Phew! - rant over.

[David Black]

I did not at any time say people were lazy or scroungers just that going forward the cost of dealing with obesity will drown the NHS in costs which others will have to fund. Old age and cronic illnesses are the reason the health system was set up not copping with indulgence.

Obesity is not a disease it is the consequence of a series of decisions to eat too much for whatever reason.

In terms of how to tax? I think VAT should be applied aggressively to tax unhealthy food and drink and encourage the sale of healthy ones (fruit etc.) Then see how things go and adjust accordingly.

[gessoo]

David you have you 'suggested' just what I put in my reply to you. If you thought that why didn't you suggest it instead of the absurb question you raised suggesting the government should actually tax fat people?

And after all the sensible answers advising the obesity can be the cause of so many different things - you still post

'Obesity is not a disease it is the consequence of a series of decisions to eat too much for whatever reason'

I give up!

[David Black]

I do think the government should tax fat people directly and indirectly.

I am not a tax planner but I gave a practical first suggestion use VAT. This could be done now and without any new legislation.

Other forms of tax penalties could then follow if necessary as progress is assessed.

[yinyang]

David. do you walk about all day with your eyes closed and your fingers in your ears? How can you be so blind as to what is happening around you?

I think people in general agree with you that there should be heavier controls and tax on junk food and more readily available healthy options.But as Gessoo has already pointed out - that is not what your original question said.

You obviously don't have any idea how overweight people could be directly taxed. Maybe you should think before you come on here spewing out half formed ideas.

[Gef]

My nomination for the most stupid idea of the week.

I'm afraid I have not read all of the answers (most of them though) so apologies if this has already been mentioned.

The earlier people die then the less strain they place on the country since they will not be claiming pensions, using the NHS etc for too long.

Perhaps we should tax people for being too old!

[gessoo]

Ha Ha Gef! Brilliant

[shaneystar2]

"Obesity is not a disease it is the consequence of a series of decisions to eat too much for whatever reason'

My poor nephew cannot make this decision...the part of the brain which tells us to stop eating when we are full is missing.
Read and learn
http://pwsa.co.uk/main.php?catagory=1

If a bar of chocolate cost a fiver he would still buy it and eat it and if a lettuce was a penny he would do the same. He will eat anything and everything .So you cannot discriminate between the glutton and the person with a genetic illness.

"I think VAT should be applied aggressively to tax unhealthy food and drink "

What a ridiculous statement ...I suppose you live on mung beans and only drink water.
Do you never eat a bit of cake ...have some fish and chips occasionally.....glass of wine ?
Perhaps you would like to see a tax on the air we breathe in case anyone is getting more then their fair share .
I have heard some bulls**t in my time but you must have written the book.
By the waylast night I had a delicious meal of FRIED liver and onions FRIED potatoes and asparagus smothered in black pepper sauce followed by melon and strawberires drizzled with honey.All cooked by my own fair hand.
Whoops ..must have put on at least two pounds so what rate of tax do you propose to levy .Never mind I'll walk that off with Shaney later.....
Hope you enjoyed your bread and water. Have a nice day .

[beejaybee]

I`m so glad that so many of you say that obesity is not ALWAYS caused through overeating. There can be medical conditions that cause it. Ofcourse, a lot of people do overeat, but even they don`t do it "for fun".

[gessoo]

Shaney, I wish you invited me over!!! yummy!!!!!

[wilsonator]

Hi Fattys - me again

You obviously didnt read my post on fat disability - in fact one of you seemed to think I thought all tubbers should be taxed - this is not what i wrote - read again.


Idiot!

[David Black]

There are clearly some other causes of obesity beyond eating but the vast bulk of fat people are so because they eat too much against their exercise level.

The discussion that there are "Other" causes is often used as a smoke screen too avoid the personal responsibilty for one's own size.

Here is a BBC commentary to highlight the matter,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our _own_correspondent/5110632.stm

"But what about all those French that I see at lunchtime, pigging out on steak and chips, with lashings of wine, followed by cheese or perhaps a little creme caramel?

Well, there is another explanation and it is not really such a paradox, either.

Researchers in the US once spent months looking into why the French remained so much slimmer than Americans.

After intensive study, they came to a remarkable conclusion.

It was because the French ate less. "