Annotated Bibliography assignment

Running head: SUMMARY

Summary

Abdulrhmaan Baroun

Septtemper27.2018

Summary

The article stipulates that in response to the rapidly increasing obesity in North America, the policymakers and health researchers are considering putting in place measures to assist in countering the epidemic. There has been an increased intake of calories by individuals over the years and this has prompted the scientists and researchers to suggest targeting of food consumption as a way of addressing the obesity epidemic. The consideration is the introduction of junk food taxes that is the nutrient tax and the food and beverage category tax. According to WHO-Food and Agricultural Organization report, the cost and pricing of healthy foods are key to the prevention of obesity. The inexpensiveness nature of unhealthy food as compared to the prices for fresh produce is an important contributor to the increased consumption of junk food.

Researchers believe that increasing the price of the unhealthy energy dense food through the junk food tax will trigger the consumers to reject the adoption of the unhealthy food choices in favor of the foods that are less energy-dense. In theory, it is clear that the introduction of taxes on the junk foods will encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and the manufacturers will also be motivated to produce healthier products or alternatives but this is not true in real life. Junk food taxing is challenging due to the difficulties in the classification of foods which are complex combinations of different ingredients in different quantities. Even though the introduction of the excise tax is likely to yield a substantial increase in revenue, it is unlikely to affect the rates of obesity (Franck, Grandi, & Eisenberg, 2013).

The imposition of the regressive excise tax is unethical as it has a negative impact on the low-income populations as they would be forced to spend a high percentage of their annual income on unhealthy food tax as compared to the higher income individuals. The imposition of these taxes is unethical since food is an essential commodity. Low-income populations, on the other hand, are the ones who consume more junk foods as compared to the high-income individuals and are hence at a higher risk of suffering from obesity and other chronic diseases. There are thus high chances of them changing their consumption behaviors and attaining long-term benefits. The revenue obtained can also be used in subsidizing healthy food and hence assist in offsetting the costs incurred by low-income consumers. The challenge, in this case, would be access to the healthy food options. The idea is also not viable because a tax that reduces the consumption is also likely to reduce the revenue generated. The use of both excise tax and subsidies can, however, be more effective than using any of them independently.

From the article, it is clear that the introduction of junk food tax on the selected snacks, nutrients or SSBs would contribute increased government revenue but it is not likely to affect the rates of obesity in the country. The use of high taxes can lead to a decline in the level of obesity in a particular population but only if it is combined with other interventions, for instance, the use of health education programs and the introduction of healthy food subsidies. Putting this into consideration is likely to be imperative in the reduction of the rates of obesity especially in the populations that are at a high risk. Even though some opponents may oppose the idea of the high taxes, the taxes would have a great impact of the low-income individuals, adolescents and also the populations that are at a high risk of suffering from obesity.

Much of the evidence used in the article in favor or against the tax on unhealthy food is obtained from incomplete information and it is thus important to consider conducting the pilot pricing interventions in various settings specifically closed ones. The approach will to a great extent assist in gaining a clear understanding of the real effects of the tax on obesity at the population level.

Reference

Franck, C., Grandi, S. M., & Eisenberg, M. J. (2013). Taxing junk food to counter obesity. American journal of public health, 103(11), 1949-1953.