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Federal Taxes On Fast Food Essay

933 Words4 Pages

“Nearly 1 in 3 adults are overweight,” states NIH in a 2017-2018 survey (“Overweight & Obesity Statistics”). The popularization of fast food and sugary, non-nutritious sodas throughout America has led to a corresponding rise in obesity cases and weight-related health problems. Regardless of the persistent efforts by America in advertising and distributing dietary and fitness products, it is clear there is a US obesity epidemic plaguing its citizens. This conundrum has sparked controversy on whether implementing a federal tax on all junk food, sodas, and fast food can minimize dietary health issues effectively. Supporters of the federal tax argue that a rise in government revenue and the discouragement of an increased price will lead to positive …show more content…

Due to fast food’s nature of being a quick and affordable meal while also being calorie-dense, low-income families tend to spend their money on fast food. Healthy alternatives are simply too expensive, money that struggling families who work multiple jobs to make ends meet and take care of kids might not have. A link in the concept of low-income families being predisposed to obesity and nutritional illnesses has been established. A research article by Yang states, “A prevalence in underweight, overweight, and obesity in 45 low and middle-income countries has been established” (3). This observation is due to the over-reliance on overly processed foods that are calorie dense but nutritionally void. However, with the proven health and revenue outcomes of implementing a federal tax, money that would be allocated to health departments can be transferred to welfare programs instead. This allocation of funds will provide the programs that low-income families need to supply their families with nutritional, non-processed food. Furthermore, leading a healthier lifestyle saves money in the long term due to avoiding possible health issues from malnutrition. This tax would essentially provide opportunities for low-income families to provide fresh food for

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