SUPERMARKETGURU FOOD &
HEALTH WEEKLY NEWSFLASH!
A New “Fat Tax” Model?
Published on: July 31, 2008Over the years, nutritionists and consumer advocates have been talking about a tax that should be charged on those foods that fall outside the scope of a well-balanced nutritional profile (meaning less fat, sodium sugar, etc.) – and their efforts have gone basically ignored for a variety of good reasons. But now, a new program across the shores in England may offer a solution.
According to an existing law, about twenty-five percent of parents are now being charged a 17.5 percent tax on their children's school uniforms due to increased levels of obesity – and therefore larger sizes. On average, parents with overweight children pay an additional 20 pounds (or about $40) per year. The tax only applies to those children over 13 years old.
Currently, estimates show that in England one third of all children aged 11 to 15 are overweight and according to the International Obesity Taskforce, it is estimated that 220,000 more children will become obese each year. The British Government has also approved "fat reports" being sent to parents twice: once at age 4-5, and again at 10-11 years old (a plan that has also been debated here in the U.S.).
While clothing manufacturers and some parents in England are up in arms about the added tax, one thing is clear: we have a global obesity problem. While parents of children that are obese may cringe to hear these types of programs being discussed, one fact is clear, and that is that we must reverse the current upward trend of child and adult obesity. There is little doubt that unless we do there is no way that those who are obese can enjoy a physical quality of life long-term, nor will our healthcare system be able to afford the treatments that will be needed and is likely to then collapse.
One healthcare company, Prudential Insurance, is trying to help the Brits. And just in time. England's population topped the list for being Europe's fattest nation, with almost 60 percent of women in England and Scotland being overweight or obese, and around two thirds of men being declared as too heavy for their height. Prudential rewards their customers to adopt lifestyle changes that will be beneficial, like going to the gym, stopping smoking or buying more fruit and vegetables. The rewards include the equivalent of a $20 return ticket on the Eurostar to Paris, Lille or Brussels, three times a year. Or an unlimited 40 percent discount off travel and with their vacations costing an average of almost $4,000, Prudential's healthy clients could make a saving of around $1,600.
What I do like about these programs, especially the school uniform fat tax and fat reports is that it raises awareness and offers parents the information they need to identify the problem, which hopefully leads to helping their children eat better and exercise more. Take a look around you: my fear is that as more people become overweight we will forget that our bodies don't come naturally with that bump between our chest and waist and we will lose our perspective and our health.
