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[rainking187]

It would be easier and probably cheaper to raise taxes on junk foods vs having mandatory BMI testing and a sort of ID card to go with it. The guy at the 7-11 is not going to be qualified to know whether to charge $1.50 for the Snickers or $6.50 just by looking at you. i would also imagine that having different brackets for taxes would be a fucking nightmare. Besides what is stopping your skinny bf/gf/other family member from getting the food and then having the fat one at home just eat it. Any taxes would have to apply to everyone.

Uh, why the hell do we need to do any of that? Things are fine as they are.

 

[water_wendi]

Uh, why the hell do we need to do any of that? Things are fine as they are.

This doesnt look fine to me.

Obesity a key link to soaring health tab as costs double
WASHINGTON — As Congress searches for ways to control health care costs, a new report provides a sizable target: obesity.

Americans who are 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight cost the country an estimated $147 billion in weight-related medical bills in 2008, double the amount a decade ago, according to a study by government scientists and the non-profit research group RTI International.

Obesity now accounts for 9.1% of all medical spending, up from 6.5% in 1998. Overall, an obese patient has $4,871 in medical bills a year compared with $3,442 for a patient at a healthy weight.

"Obesity is the single biggest reason for the increase in health care costs," says Eric Finkelstein, a health economist with RTI and lead researcher on the new study. "If you really want to rein in health care dollars, you have to get people dieting, exercising and living a healthier lifestyle. Otherwise somebody is going to be paying for treating these weight-related illnesses."

 

[Deleted member 1235]

this is freaking genius idea.

Like taxing cigarettes. Free money for the government because fatties won't stop, just like smokers.

Very good idea and an extremely practical one now that America is fucking broke. Money has to come from somewhere plus this going hand in hand with better health care will probably prolong the life of the average lard ass a bit.

 

[water_wendi]

this is freaking genius idea.

Like taxing cigarettes. Free money for the government because fatties won't stop, just like smokers.

Very good idea and an extremely practical one now that America is fucking broke. Money has to come from somewhere plus this going hand in hand with better health care will probably prolong the life of the average lard ass a bit.

Pretty much. And for anyone that doesnt think something like this will happen because most of the country drink soda.. well the taxation and banning of cigarettes has proved that such a thing can be done regardless of the percentage of citizens that partake in the vices consumption.

 

[LivingEarth]

Why don't we just make fast food and sugar foods illegal? Freedom really does not mean anything anymore. It is completely empty.

Sugar kills people and makes them fat
Fast food kills people and makes them fat
burning wood logs in the fireplace can cause fires and causes pollution
religion kills people and should be outlawed.
smoking should be illegal unless it is pot then it is okay.

Why not just drop freedom altogether and call it a day?

 

[rezuth]

Fuck that. I'll just stop drinking soda.
I am not fat, nor overweight, piss off with your curb obesity crap.
Parents should control their kids obesity not the government.

That's all good in theory but it ain't how it works.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

Why don't we just make fast food and sugar foods illegal? Freedom really does not mean anything anymore. It is completely empty.

Sugar kills people and makes them fat
Fast food kills people and makes them fat
burning wood logs in the fireplace can cause fires and causes pollution
religion kills people and should be outlawed.
smoking should be illegal unless it is pot then it is okay.

Why not just drop freedom altogether and call it a day?

what? that's a stupid argument. You still have freedom it just going to cost more than you are currently used to. You will sit on your rocking chair and moan about 'in my day' while your siblings children enjoy their free health care and 8 dollar sodas.

 

[Mr. Melender]

A 12-can case, which sells today for about $3.20, could rise by $1.44, a 45 percent increase!!!

:lol :lol :lol This. THIS! Jesus, I pay $2.70 for the equivalent of 5 cans here in Sweden.

 

[LivingEarth]

what? that's a stupid argument. You still have freedom it just going to cost more than you are currently used to. You will sit on your rocking chair and moan about 'in my day' while your siblings children enjoy their free health care and 8 dollar sodas.

yeah, good luck with that FREE healthcare. That is reallistically out of reach.
I drink diet soda because I am Diabetic, but honestly it is the first step of trying to get rid of it from society.

 

[xs_mini_neo]

You're aptly named.

lol

:lol :lol :lol This. THIS! Jesus, I pay $2.70 for the equivalent of 5 cans here in Sweden.

But those 12 cans in America are full of nasty ass HFCS, which makes 12 cans worse than 5 cans of the same drink anywhere else in the world. You're getting the better deal. Plus you live in Sweet Sweden.

 

[roosters93]

I'm all for it. Btw, I thought Britain was the nanny state?

Because numerous studies have found that soda and other high sugar (HFC) drinks are a leading cause of obesity in many children and adults. You don't sit at your desk/couch and sip on a giant cup of bacon all day.

:lol

 

[EYEL1NER]

Do you have some links I can read about this? I tried to google it and failed.

I'm not being confrontational, just would like for another reason to stop drinking pop.

What? C'mon man, there are plenty of reasons to stop drinking it. I don't try to push for anyone to stop though, becuase the way people are, it's hard for them to stop.
Switch to Diet. Drink Max or Zero over regular. I used to tell myself I would never drink Diet, that it all tasted like shit. I started off on Diet Mountain Dew though, because that is what some of the fit guys I work with drink. I tell you, if you aren't in the best shape, switch to Diet and you will notice such a huge change in the way your body looks.
The only time I drink a non-diet pop is when I drink Root Beer.

I'm not saying Diet drinks are good for you, but they are less bad (except for the cancer you get lawl).

I have a serious problems with BMI and how its done. I work with eating disorders psychologists and clinicians and I have asked what my BMI should be and how much i should weigh. According to the BMI index I am 25 pounds overweight. I'm 6'0 190. When I was 6'0 160 in college I could eat and eat and eat and not gain a pound, but everyone told me I didnt eat enough. Now that I filled out, not only do i not get that crap before, but the ladies say i look a lot better. My blood pressure is still 120/80. But according to BMI I'm overweight which is unhealthy.
I couldn't imagine weighing 160 again.

It also doesn't take into account that people have different body types and that some people are physically denser than others.

BMI is the worst. For Air Force PT tests, one of the measurements is a waist tape, for the circumference of your waist, and if that is bad, then they do BMI.
I am not in good shape, kinda got a beer gut. My supervisor can probably bench, squat, deadlift, and military press more than 99% of the people in this topic and run faster than 80%. Not saying you guys are morbidly obese unhealthy bastards. I am just saying he is far beyond what is normal as far as being physically fit. There is no reason him and I should have the same waist tape and BMI. According to the AF standards, he is unhealthy and overweight, borderline obese. Yeah right...

 

[Vyer]

You know, I totally understand the people who are against this and why they are against it, and there are a ton of good reasons, and probably for the most part they are right.

But I just can't seem to generate much hate on it.

Hell, I don't know; I know for example that soda is shit for you and I still drink it anyway (though a lot less than I used to). Maybe this will help me to stop altogether.

 

[Slayven]

I am not to worried about this passing. Food companies have enough lobbyists to make this null.

 

[BobsRevenge]

Sugar is a natural carbohydrate, HFCS is a drug.

There isn't much of a difference between the two. An enzyme in your stomache turns sugar into glucose and fructose almost instantly from what I understand, and there is only a small difference between the two other than that one differentiator.

Table sugar is about 50:50 glucose to fructose, while HFCS is 45:55.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Instead of this they should try to make cheaper healthier options. Part of the problem is it's more convenient and cheaper than things like juice or the such.

 

[SouthernDragon]

Yeah, I don't think it's any of the government's goddamn business what I choose to drink. "Nanny state" indeed.

Good thing they aren't forcing you to choose, then.

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

I never understood the allure of these drinks.

Having one with dinner, that's fine, but gulping them all day?

If I feel the need to just do something stupid, I'd rather just smoke a cigarrete. Which I do, and way too often by the way.

 

[SouthernDragon]

They are naturally addictive. Humans love sugar.

After being off of it for a while, it's hard to drink, though.

 

[avatar299]

Obesity is a side effect of living in a rich society. When food, any food is pathetically cheap people are going to overeat it. If you want to tax people to make them "healthy" tax all food and artificially force diets.

This has nothing to do with making people healthy and everything to do with trying to find any way to pump as much money into healthcare as possible, so the bill will be easier to pass

 

[reddmyst]

Good thing they aren't forcing you to choose, then.

Seriously, reading comprehension ftl.

 

[May16]

I love soda and gatorade. I weigh 130 pounds.

Why don't we just tax PEOPLE based on their own fatness?

Doesn't that cut right to the chase? Avoid the middleman, and all that? I don't see why 130 pound May16 should have his favorite drinks taxed just because SOME people get fat drinking them and doing other fat people things.

 

[udivision]

Notice it's a tax on sugary drinks.

That includes sports drinks and juice too. It's not just soda. Even "healthy" juice is sugared up.

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

Notice it's a tax on sugary drinks.

That includes sports drinks and juice too. It's not just soda. Even "healthy" juice is sugared up.

Even salads found on supermarkets contain sugar too. It's hilarious.

 

[jmdajr]

Notice it's a tax on sugary drinks.

That includes sports drinks and juice too. It's not just soda. Even "healthy" juice is sugared up.

you're better off eating the fruit.

 

[beelzebozo]

you're better off eating the fruit.

always. eating an orange is always better than drinking orange juice. same for apples, grapes, etc. you actually get the benefit of EATING SOMETHING; you feel FULL and make better nutritional decisions.

 

[TheSeks]

People need to start doing things like this:
Get some fucking zuchinis, cut that shit up, and put it in a pan with some EV olive oil on the bottom of it. Get some salt and pepper on those motherfuckers and cook them through on medium-low. Enjoy some cheap, tasty, filling, and nutritious veggies after all of the about 15 minutes that it took you to prepare and cook.

Grab some leaves, toss that shit into a bowl and throw some bleu cheese on it. Dress with olive oil and vinegar. Boom.

Ew. No.

We don't need a tax for this shit. People that are drinking it are going to continue drinking it. It's like the tax on cigarettes. It doesn't stop them.

Changing people's diets isn't going to happen with taxes, it's just going to annoy them further.

 

[avatar299]

always. eating an orange is always better than drinking orange juice. same for apples, grapes, etc. you actually get the benefit of EATING SOMETHING; you feel FULL and make better nutritional decisions.

You get orange juice and stick all over your hands and face though.

Even salads found on supermarkets contain sugar too. It's hilarious.

Aren't those sugars a part of the preservatives that keep the salad lasting longer than 6 hours on store shelves?

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

You get orange juice and stick all over your hands and face though.

Aren't those sugars a part of the preservatives that keep the salad lasting longer than 6 hours on store shelves?

No idea!

I buy now those bags of pre-cut mixed salad without dressing and then mix the whole thing at home. These bags don't contain sugar.

But really, I have the habit of looking at the ingredient list of everything (just curiosity) and it's astounding how common sugar is.

 

[beelzebozo]

i have mixed feelings about this

on the one hand, i'm not sure it's really right
on the other, i don't drink sugary drinks, so i can't help but laugh as they stick it to people

 

[avatar299]

No idea!

I buy now those bags of pre-cut mixed salad without dressing and then mix the whole thing at home. These bags don't contain sugar.

i do the same thing. it's some good stuff.

Though honestly i pour so much dressing on it that even if it didn't have sugar, It wouldn't mean anything to me.

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

i do the same thing. it's some good stuff.

Though honestly i pour so much dressing on it that even if it didn't have sugar, It wouldn't mean anything to me.

Well, at least you are chosing it instead of being fed to you without your consent!

 

[avatar299]

Well, at least you are chosing it instead of being fed to you without your consent!

God Bless America

 

[BobsRevenge]

Ew. No.

We don't need a tax for this shit. People that are drinking it are going to continue drinking it. It's like the tax on cigarettes. It doesn't stop them.

Changing people's diets isn't going to happen with taxes, it's just going to annoy them further.

If you don't like zucchini you aren't human.

 

[LM4sure]

:lol :lol :lol This. THIS! Jesus, I pay $2.70 for the equivalent of 5 cans here in Sweden.

When I went to Europe, I was surprised at how much soda cost over there. I'm sure it is like there in most places other than the US. No wonder people are so fat in the US, seeing that Americans get 7% of their calorie intake from soda. It's cheap and it's good.

I think this tax is a very good idea. Fat people are driving the cost of healthcare. My girlfriend is a nurse at a hospital and she said most kids she sees over overweight. And they're so fuckin fat and lazy that they piss and shit themselves because they don't want to get up to go to the bathroom. Fucking fat people. Ick.

 

[shintoki]

I laughed at everything but the juices. I don't drink crappy energy drinks, soda, etc. But Juices...Grape, Lemonade, Orange. This wounds me dearly.

I would love them to put a tax on Coffee :lol

 

[The Faceless Master]

Lobbyists (food industry, citrus, corn, etc) will bury this. Should be an interesting wake-up call to Obama, similar to what happened to Clinton early in his presidency.

yeah, the first thing i thought was "the corn lobby will crush this"

 

[Diablos]

I wish we would just ban all forms of corn syrup instead.

 

[Jado]

what i was saying is the protein fat and carbs from the burgers are the same as from the baked potato and grilled chicken only difference being that one usually has alot more calories than the other per serving.

You're still wrong. The types and ratios of fat found in beef are not the same as in a chicken or a peanut. The type of carbs in a whole grain bread are not the same as in a box of cereal. The protein in fish is not the same as the protein in a banana. The same goes for vitamins, minerals, phenols/flavonoids, etc.

The study John's Ultimatum quoted is correct. The problem is almost entirely diet. Americans are getting fatter even though they're more than ever concerned about health and exercising more than they ever have in the past. People have been sendentary watching TV or listening to radio, using cars to get anywhere, and sitting in offices all day long before this obesity epidemic started around the '70s.

The country is fat because of a huge amount of cheap, low-quality food, all made possible by subsidized corn and soy. This isn't just fast food and soda either. Nearly all of the supermarket-bought beef, chicken, and fish some of you brag about using for healthier meals is corn-fed and as a result, fattier, less nutritious than in the past (proven by studies), and abundant (bigger portions). The food we eat today is worse than identical food our grandparents ate. It pretty much explains the many, though not all, who try to eat "normal" and still can't maintain a good weight. Saying you don't want the gov't deciding what you eat is stupid. It was decided before you were born by lobbyists from the food industry.

A soda tax makes sense but the real solution is to get rid of subsidies (which we pay for with taxes). It's one of several hidden costs that makes much of the food we all buy more expensive than the listed price. And please, let's stop saying this is only about the obese or working poor. Americans at all levels of income and education are less healthy than in the past and certainly less healthy than current-day counterparts in other countries.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/opinion/10pollan.html
The author of this article also wrote the Omnivore's Dilemma which I recommend some of you read. It goes beyond Fast Food Nation in explaining why nearly everyone, not just the fast food consumer, is less healthy today.

 

[jmdajr]

You're still wrong. The types and ratios of fat found in beef are not the same as in a chicken or a peanut. The type of carbs in a whole grain bread are not the same as in a box of cereal. The protein in fish is not the same as the protein in a banana. The same goes for vitamins, minerals, phenols/flavonoids, etc.

The study John's Ultimatum quoted is correct. The problem is almost entirely diet. Americans are getting fatter even though they're more than ever concerned about health and exercising more than they ever have in the past. People have been sendentary watching TV or listening to radio, using cars to get anywhere, and sitting in offices all day long before this obesity epidemic started around the '70s.

The country is fat because of a huge amount of cheap, low-quality food, all made possible by subsidized corn and soy. This isn't just fast food and soda either. Nearly all of the supermarket-bought beef, chicken, and fish some of you brag about using for healthier meals is corn-fed and as a result, fattier, less nutritious than in the past (proven by studies), and abundant (bigger portions). The food we eat today is worse than identical food our grandparents ate. It pretty much explains the many, though not all, who try to eat "normal" and still can't maintain a good weight. Saying you don't want the gov't deciding what you eat is stupid. It was decided before you were born by lobbyists from the food industry.

A soda tax makes sense but the real solution is to get rid of subsidies (which we pay for with taxes). It's one of several hidden costs that makes much of the food we all buy more expensive than the listed price. And please, let's stop saying this is only about the obese or working poor. Americans at all levels of income and education are less healthy than in the past and certainly less healthy than current-day counterparts in other countries.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/opinion/10pollan.html
The author of this article also wrote the Omnivore's Dilemma which I recommend some of you read. It goes beyond Fast Food Nation in explaining why nearly everyone, not just the fast food consumer, is less healthy today.

good post. It's funny how we are so far ahead in the advance of medicine yet we are killing ourselves with food. It's like the two just cancel each other out.

I know people will go nuts if all food prices go up but really, most of us eat more god damn food than we could ever need. It might makes us form better habits. As of now when I go to the grocery I refuse to spend my money on stuff that is bad for me. It's insane really. Giving up hard earned money to destroy your body. I wont lie, I still eat junk food, but it's usually at some type of gathering or work related meeting. It's free.. but really... I still shouldn't eat it.

edit: damn, someone just filled the break room with donuts NO SIR NOT FOR ME!

 

[Price Dalton]

You're still wrong. The types and ratios of fat found in beef are not the same as in a chicken or a peanut. The type of carbs in a whole grain bread are not the same as in a box of cereal. The protein in fish is not the same as the protein in a banana. The same goes for vitamins, minerals, phenols/flavonoids, etc.

The study John's Ultimatum quoted is correct. The problem is almost entirely diet. Americans are getting fatter even though they're more than ever concerned about health and exercising more than they ever have in the past. People have been sendentary watching TV or listening to radio, using cars to get anywhere, and sitting in offices all day long before this obesity epidemic started around the '70s.

The country is fat because of a huge amount of cheap, low-quality food, all made possible by subsidized corn and soy. This isn't just fast food and soda either. Nearly all of the supermarket-bought beef, chicken, and fish some of you brag about using for healthier meals is corn-fed and as a result, fattier, less nutritious than in the past (proven by studies), and abundant (bigger portions). The food we eat today is worse than identical food our grandparents ate. It pretty much explains the many, though not all, who try to eat "normal" and still can't maintain a good weight. Saying you don't want the gov't deciding what you eat is stupid. It was decided before you were born by lobbyists from the food industry.

A soda tax makes sense but the real solution is to get rid of subsidies (which we pay for with taxes). It's one of several hidden costs that makes much of the food we all buy more expensive than the listed price. And please, let's stop saying this is only about the obese or working poor. Americans at all levels of income and education are less healthy than in the past and certainly less healthy than current-day counterparts in other countries.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/opinion/10pollan.html
The author of this article also wrote the Omnivore's Dilemma which I recommend some of you read. It goes beyond Fast Food Nation in explaining why nearly everyone, not just the fast food consumer, is less healthy today.

Good post. In fact, the 70s actually saw Americans start to listen to the health advice from government-sanctioned experts. We ate less animal fat, more vegetable fat, and more carbohydrates (just like they told us to do), yet we got fatter and sicker. We exercised, gyms sprang up everywhere, yet still the poundage and the diseases of civilization increased.

Real food still exists, though - you just have to know where to look. Anyone who's interested in eating meat and vegetables reared and grown the way they've been for millennia should really visit the local farmer's markets. If you can't do that, look into joining a CSA. Invest in a chest freezer and buy a quarter cow or pig raised in pasture. Eatwild.com is a great resource for organic, pasture-raised products. If you plan it right, you can often get organic grass-fed beef in bulk for around $4/pound.

 

[BobsRevenge]

I wish we would just ban all forms of corn syrup instead.

You stay the fuck away from my pecan pie.

 

[BobsRevenge]

Good post. In fact, the 70s actually saw Americans start to listen to the health advice from government-sanctioned experts. We ate less animal fat, more vegetable fat, and more carbohydrates (just like they told us to do), yet we got fatter and sicker. We exercised, gyms sprang up everywhere, yet still the poundage and the diseases of civilization increased.

Real food still exists, though - you just have to know where to look. Anyone who's interested in eating meat and vegetables reared and grown the way they've been for millennia should really visit the local farmer's markets. If you can't do that, look into joining a CSA. Invest in a chest freezer and buy a quarter cow or pig raised in pasture. Eatwild.com is a great resource for organic, pasture-raised products. If you plan it right, you can often get organic grass-fed beef in bulk for around $4/pound.

Out of curiousity, is the Price in your user name from Weston Price? Your views on nutrition seem to be pretty well inline with that group's.

btw, the easiest and cheapest way I've found to eat good meat is to eat New Zealand lamb and canned wild small fish.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Liter soda is America's best chance to get people into the metric system! We need to get as many people drinking soda as possible.


Actually I don't think I really have an opinion on a soda tax.

sodas have come in 2 liter bottles forever in the USA. and 1.5l bottles in recent years.

 

[Price Dalton]

Out of curiousity, is the Price in your user name from Weston Price? Your views on nutrition seem to be pretty well inline with that group's.

btw, the easiest and cheapest way I've found to eat good meat is to eat New Zealand lamb and canned wild small fish.

Actually, it isn't, but I am a big fan of Weston Price's work. It's too bad he gets ignored as a crackpot or a quack. The guy did some incredible research on nutrition and disease.

Yeah, lamb in general tends to be grass-fed, but I think even Australia (not sure about NZ) is moving toward corn as supplementary feed. Too bad. Sardines are a staple in my pantry, too.