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Obesity and Proposed Fat Tax

In: English and Literature

Submitted By TATHAC2351
Words 1201
Pages 5
Tammy Thacker
Obesity and the Proposal of Fat Tax
English Composition II
Dr. Wells
October 27, 2014

Obesity and the Proposal of Fat Tax
Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States of America. It is affecting our children's health to the point where they are being diagnosed with early onset diabetes and hypertension. . Obesity is the result of eating high fat, high protein foods along with a serious sedentary lifestyle. I intend to show that although obesity is on the rise applying fat tax is not the answer to our problem. Obesity is defined, medically as having a body mass index of more than 30. However, it can be effectively curtailed by lowering your caloric intake, exercise, and implementing healthier school lunches. The medical risks associated with excessive body weight is many and varied, include: osteoarthritis, coronary artery disease, stroke, and high cholesterol. Some people with obesity suffer from stress, low self-esteem, social disadvantaged and depression. According to data collected in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999), amongst U. S. adults aged 20-74 years obesity has nearly doubled from approximately 15% in 1980 to an estimated 27% in 1999. (Clark & Dittrich, November 2010) The obesity epidemic affects the world in the form of increase health insurance cost, medical bills related to different illness that occurs while being obese. It also poses for an increase in regular taxes so that the government can accommodate for expensive equipment to transport obese patients, wear and tear on roads, railways, airplanes and so on. Some Conservative Parties in other countries think that they have come up with a way to combat obesity with a Fat Tax. In Britain obesity is on the verge of overtaking smoking and drinking as the biggest health challenge. (Craven, Barrie M. Fat Taxes and other interventions

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