In order to support the weight management and heart health of the nation, regulators should impose a tax of at least 20 percent on unhealthy food options while subsidizing fruits and vegetables, a team of experts said.
Researchers from Oxford University explained their recommendations in the latest issue of the British Medical Journal. The comments come in advance of the World Health Assembly set to take place at the end of May.
The researchers wrote that obesity rates have exploded in recent decades, as high-calorie, sugary foods have become less expensive. As more people have started eating these non-nutritious foods, they have also become less likely to consume vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables.
Previous studies have suggested that imposing a tax of at least 20 percent on sugary drinks could lead to a 3.5 percent reduction in obesity rates, the researchers said. This could help millions of people avoid potentially serious health complications.
The practicability of such a tax may be another matter. The investigators pointed out that public opinion polls have produced varying results, with different surveys indicating that anywhere from 37 to 72 percent of Americans would favor such a tax.
Then there are the enforcement issues. A tax on unhealthy foods would be a largely unprecedented step, and legislators likely do not have information on the best ways to implement and enforce such a tax, while taking care to avoid unintended consequences.
However, the bottom line is that people need to stop eating high-calorie foods that are of little nutritional value and start eating more fruits and vegetables, which are loaded with vitamins. The researchers said that taxing unhealthy foods may be the most effective way to accomplish such an ambitious goal.
