Taxes proposed for soft drinks

[Hollywood]

Several of the nation's leading health experts are calling for a tax on soda as a means of curbing America's obesity-epidemic.

Their paper, appearing in the most recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, calls for a tax on "sugar-sweetened" drinks in order to reduce the consumption of the drinks and lower health costs as well as fund government-run health programs.

"A tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is really a double-win," said Dr. David Ludwig, a co-author of the paper and director of the Optimal Weight for Life program at Children's Hospital, Boston.

....

"I don't see how anyone would go with attacking the beverage industry and taxing a single food, and I don't think the evidence is there to support taxing a soft drink," said Theresa Nicklas, an epidemiologist at the Baylor College of Medicine. "Why are we targeting sweetened beverages? What about Twinkies, what about happy meals, what about chocolate candy?"

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/leading-researchers-propose-tax-sugared-drinks/Story?id=8594299&page=1


 

[Human Snorenado]

Wouldn't bother me at all- I drink like maybe the equivalent of a two liter a month.

Tax restaurant sweet tea and we'll have to fucking tussle, tho. 

[Diunx]

If they tax my cigarrates then is only fair that they tax coke, less fat kids= a better tomorrow.

[Phoenix Dark]

How about a cash for clunkers type program. Turn in Twinkies and pop for Subway sammiches and sweet tea

[Bebpo]

I'm ok with this, it'll motivate me to stick with water even more.

[Human Snorenado]

How about a cash for clunkers type program. Turn in Twinkies and pop for Subway sammiches and sweet tea

Or better yet, turn in your fat young boys for love pillows and fleshlights.

[Phoenix Dark]

Awesome, I could get some high quality fleshlights after turning you in

[OptimoPeach]

lol @ comparing soft drinks to cigarettes. I don't even drink soda anymore and this pisses me off.

[CajoleJuice]

Nanny state?

[GilloD]

REAL TALK:

Why does this make everyone so mad?

Doesn't it piss you off that companies have been jacking their drinks full of corn syrup for decades? Doesnt it piss you off that enormo food corps have been exploiting the human diet and drive to consume to make mega profits while making Americans less healthy than ever? There's a place in India where Coke fucking DRAINED THE WATER TABLE DRY. A lawsuit means they now have to supply that town with water forever. Because they fucking used it all to make soft drinks. That doesn't piss you off?

What pisses you off is a 5 cent tax on your too-sweet soda? Gimmie a fucking break. Get real.

[Phoenix Dark]

Nanny state?

No because it would suggest you live with a woman

[The Fake Shemp]

As someone who likes his pop, soda or whatever the hell you call, it doesn't bother me at all.

But it doesn't fix the problem.

Companies have been peddling cheap, addictive beverages to kids for decades - subsidized by government dollars. We've got a problem when kids can get Mountain Dew in middle schools over things like water and juice.

Taxing the drinks will only result in people paying more for garbage, what we need is an overhaul of our food system.

That's my personal opinion.

[CajoleJuice]

Nanny state?

No because it would suggest you live with a woman

My mom doesn't count?

[Phoenix Dark]

I thought you had your own place  :'(

[CajoleJuice]

It's my turn to  :'(

[Phoenix Dark]

I feel shitty, time for a pick-me-up

[youtube=560,345]o0vblmfAeQE[/youtube]
 

[Flannel Boy]

I have pop-pop in my pants.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

100% in favor of

2-3 cents per ounce would be great.

[Tieno]

What's with the nanny hate? I wish I had a nanny

[pilonv1]

how about a tax on stupid fat cunts who dont exercise?

how hard is it to move more and eat less

smh america

[Himu]

This is a good idea. I don't even drink soda anymore.

The War on Soda!

Pretty soon we will have started a new country, soda dumped in the Atlantic! The Boston Soda Party!

[Brehvolution]

End the corn subsidy. This will jack up the prices of shit drinks to be in line with healthier alternatives. problem fixed. Money saved.

[Bocsius]

How about a tax credit for my gym membership while we're at it.

[Kestastrophe]

How about a tax credit for my gym membership while we're at it.

[OptimoPeach]

REAL TALK:

Why does this make everyone so mad?

What pisses you off is a 5 cent tax on your too-sweet soda? Gimmie a fucking break. Get real.

Because if such a tax is imposed it'll be done so under the pretense that legislators actually give a shit about the average fatty's eating habits, instead of the fact that this is just an easy excuse to cash in on the cows.

Doesn't it piss you off that companies have been jacking their drinks full of corn syrup for decades? Doesnt it piss you off that enormo food corps have been exploiting the human diet and drive to consume to make mega profits while making Americans less healthy than ever?

But that's the thing. Soda is just a fraction of the problem with the American diet, and the people that are consuming unhealthy amounts of it on a daily basis are more often than not going to be the same lardasses that gorge on Ding Dongs and fast food because it's a cheaper alternative to shopping at Whole Foods. The studies being cited simply indicate a correlation between heavy soda consumption and health issues, and for some reason I doubt that people walking around 100+ lbs overweight like this guy got that way solely because of soft drinks.

Like you said, a much bigger part of the problem is the pervasiveness in food of HFCS, so why not suggest a tax on all corporations using the stuff instead of just a handful of them?

There's a place in India where Coke fucking DRAINED THE WATER TABLE DRY. A lawsuit means they now have to supply that town with water forever. Because they fucking used it all to make soft drinks. That doesn't piss you off?

Big corporate exploitation in other countries has nothing to do with the inherent unhealthiness of soda itself, and it has nothing to do with why this tax is being proposed; that is an entirely different issue.

Like I said, I don't even drink soda anymore, but the idea that this is going to change anything is risible

[Dickie Dee]

End the corn subsidy. This will jack up the prices of shit drinks to be in line with healthier alternatives. problem fixed. Money saved.

Yes.

Maybe make gym memberships and exercise equipment tax deductable? Don't know what kind of mess that would create tbh.

[Dickie Dee]

REAL TALK:

Why does this make everyone so mad?

What pisses you off is a 5 cent tax on your too-sweet soda? Gimmie a fucking break. Get real.

Because if such a tax is imposed it'll be done so under the pretense that legislators actually give a shit about the average fatty's eating habits, instead of the fact that this is just an easy excuse to cash in on the cows.

Doesn't it piss you off that companies have been jacking their drinks full of corn syrup for decades? Doesnt it piss you off that enormo food corps have been exploiting the human diet and drive to consume to make mega profits while making Americans less healthy than ever?

But that's the thing. Soda is just a fraction of the problem with the American diet, and the people that are consuming unhealthy amounts of it on a daily basis are more often than not going to be the same lardasses that gorge on Ding Dongs and fast food because it's a cheaper alternative to shopping at Whole Foods. The studies being cited simply indicate a correlation between heavy soda consumption and health issues, and for some reason I doubt that people walking around 100+ lbs overweight like this guy got that way solely because of soft drinks.

Like you said, a much bigger part of the problem is the pervasiveness in food of HFCS, so why not suggest a tax on all corporations using the stuff instead of just a handful of them?

There's a place in India where Coke fucking DRAINED THE WATER TABLE DRY. A lawsuit means they now have to supply that town with water forever. Because they fucking used it all to make soft drinks. That doesn't piss you off?

Big corporate exploitation in other countries has nothing to do with the inherent unhealthiness of soda itself, and it has nothing to do with why this tax is being proposed; that is an entirely different issue.

Like I said, I don't even drink soda anymore, but the idea that this is going to change anything is risible

Correlation isn't causation, yadda yadda, but still...

California soda survey gives weight to health concerns
atong@sacbee.com
Published Thursday, Sep. 17, 2009

A sweeping statewide study released today points to soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages as one of the main reasons why we are fat.

"For the first time, we have strong scientific evidence that soda is one of the – if not the largest – contributors to the obesity epidemic," Dr. Harold Goldstein, executive director of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, said Wednesday.

Obesity costs California $41 billion a year, an earlier report from the same organization found.

Suspicion of a link between soda and obesity isn't fresh news, but authors said the study is unprecedented in its scope.

"Bubbling Over: Soda Consumption and Its Link to Obesity in California" – a joint effort by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research – interviewed 42,000 Californians of all ages.

The study found that 24 percent of adults drink one or more non-diet sodas a day, and these adults are 27 percent more likely to be overweight.

The results for children were worse, researchers said. Sixty-two percent of adolescents ages 12 to 17 and 41 percent of children ages 2 to 11 imbibe at least one sugar-sweetened drink a day.

These kids, Goldstein said, will end up costing the state in future health care bills.

"This could be the first generation in modern history that will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents," he said.

The main culprit in soft drinks is sugar – lots of it. Soda racks up 17 teaspoons of sugar and about 250 calories per 20-ounce serving, and many add caffeine.

"A bottle of soda is nothing more than a sugar delivery device," said Goldstein. "We have a lot of very sweet kids."

He says the key to fixing the obesity epidemic is eliminating soda consumption, because many soft drinks are high-calorie and do little to curb hunger.

"When you eat food, it makes you full," said Judith Stern, a professor at the University of California, Davis' nutrition department. "When you drink a soda, it doesn't make you feel full, so it's wasted calories."

American soda consumption has been steadily rising: Compared with 30 years ago, we consume an average 278 more calories per day, almost half of it from soda, according to the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.

In the mid-1990s, children's intake of sugared beverages surpassed milk. And for each glass of soda consumed per day, a child's likelihood of becoming obese increases 60 percent.

Beverage makers say soda is unfairly demonized. In promoting healthy lifestyles, some soda companies – including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo – have introduced vitamin- enhanced zero-calorie sodas in the past several years, marketed as "sparkling beverages."

"The fact remains you can be a healthy person and enjoy a soft drink," Dr. Maureen Storey, an American Beverage Association spokeswoman, wrote in a statement.

Experts on childhood obesity say a sweet tooth for soda develops early in life.

"I have seen a number of children who come into the doctor's office with soda in their baby bottle," said Dr. Ulfat Shaikh, a pediatrician who works at UC Davis Children Hospital's weight management clinic. "That, frankly, is frightening."

Some parents say banning soda from the start is the only way to go.

Debi Ravenscroft of Loomis has never allowed her 10-year-old daughter to drink soda, even though her husband, Bob, drinks six to eight sodas a day.

Because her daughter never started drinking soda, she doesn't crave it.

"If she is at her friend's house and they offer soda to her, she says, 'Can I have a water, please?' " Ravenscroft said.

Ravenscroft sees other positive effects of keeping soft drinks away from her daughter.

"I have seen other kids who are allowed to drink Pepsi, and I honestly believe that's the reason why they can't sit still," she said.

The study also rekindled talk of a "soda tax" among California policymakers.

California limits school sales of sodas, candy and other junk food. Sodas, unlike most other foods, are subject to sales tax.

A 1 cent tax per ounce of soda would generate $1.8 billion per year in California.

Six states – Arkansas, Missouri, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia – have soda taxes.

"It's time to revisit the soda tax debate, now that we have ever-more convincing evidence of its role in obesity," said state Sen. Alex Padilla, D-San Fernando Valley, who chairs a committee on obesity and diabetes.

On a weekday afternoon, middle-schoolers on the way home from California Middle School stopped by a Marie's Do-Nut Shop on Freeport Boulevard in Sacramento. Several purchased soft drinks.

"It's just so … sugary," said 13-year-old Duy Ngo, as he snapped open a can of 7-Up.

[BlackMage]

what will this do to things like soda machines?

[Tauntaun]

"Oh I'm sorry, I thought this was America!"

[Bocsius]

what will this do to things like soda machines?

20oz bottles will be $1.6225
12oz cans will be $0.9475

The challenge will be returning the correct change.

[Brehvolution]

what will this do to things like soda machines?

Soda machines are already cost prohibitive imo.

[Bocsius]

It's a thyroid condition, you rabid anti-thyroidite.

[Snuflupagulus]

how about a tax on stupid fat cunts who dont exercise?

how hard is it to move more and eat less

smh america

lol.  pilonv1, have you been to america?  We're so fucking lazy that manufacturers run television commercials for those go-cart, scooter-things into which old people plop their ample asses.  They claim you can get it "free" 'cause Medicare will pay for it.  Sidewalks aren't for pedestrians over here; it's a smaller lane for motorized carts.  Usually, you see these people rolling into the sunset with 64-oz Slushies from 7-11, their heads lolly-gagging with tongue between lips.  That's 1.8 L for our metric friends.  We spell Diabetes with a capitol D over here.

[Fragamemnon]

how about a tax on stupid fat cunts who dont exercise?

how hard is it to move more and eat less

smh america

dude even some  of our sports drinks have HFCS in America.

I'd totally be down for a a tax credit or deduction for proof of sustained physical activity, but the problem is that getting to a healthy weight is like 4/5 diet and only 1/5 exercise. Fighting the fat isn't something that can really efficiently be done from the activity end.

Our real problem is tons of processed shit food that isn't filling but is dirt cheap, and that's not exclusively due to ag subsidies.

[Brehvolution]

End the corn subsidy. This will jack up the prices of shit drinks to be in line with healthier alternatives. problem fixed. Money saved.

Holy fuck, Zero Hero said something agreeable.

Of course, that money would be better suited for UHC.

[recursivelyenumerable]

I am personally cool with this.  I don't much like soda, but sometimes end up drinking it when vending machines, workplaces etc. don't stock anything else.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I'd be just fine with an outright ban on pop but I know that will make the fat fucks squall like babies so forget that.  A 2-3 cent per ounce tax should be instated.

[Eel O'Brian]

itt we see a terrific example of people not giving a shit about things which don't affect them

when they slap down a game tax (for "education funding") or an extra coffee tax (because, you know, caffeine is pretty horrible for you when you think about it, and why should the rest of america pay for your jitters?), then you fucks will splutter with outrage, guaranteed

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

itt we see a terrific example of people not giving a shit about things which don't affect them

when they slap down a game tax (for "education funding") or an extra coffee tax (because, you know, caffeine is pretty horrible for you when you think about it, and why should the rest of america pay for your jitters?), then you fucks will splutter with outrage, guaranteed

I'd be fine with either one.  Neither of them are essential goods.

If such a soda tax were implemented, I'd doubt it'd be funneled 100% to the program or spent with 100% efficiency anyway.  Most of it would probably get diverted to various pet projects or get squandered in some UHC program, like a health care equivalent of D.A.R.E.

[Eel O'Brian]

i'm not fine with these types of targeted microtaxations

[recursivelyenumerable]

Yeah, when I said "I'm personally cool with this" I just meant it might (slightly) benefit me personally.  I don't have any particular opinion on whether it's a wise policy that increases aggregate welfare or whatever, except that I doubt it's likely to cause the world to end.  I do agree that too many tax code hacks have the cumulative effect of making taxes more complicated, which aggravates various problems.

Caffeine is good for me!

[The Fake Shemp]

itt we see a terrific example of people not giving a shit about things which don't affect them

when they slap down a game tax (for "education funding") or an extra coffee tax (because, you know, caffeine is pretty horrible for you when you think about it, and why should the rest of america pay for your jitters?), then you fucks will splutter with outrage, guaranteed

Has the slippery slope libertarian theory ever held up?

[Eel O'Brian]

fuck you, i'm no libertarian, i despise you all equally

if you can't see where this type of bullshit adds up over time, then you're either blinded by idealism or just plain stupid

forgive me, forgot where i was posting for a moment

[The Fake Shemp]

fuck you, i'm no libertarian, i despise you all equally

if you can't see where this type of bullshit adds up over time, then you're either blinded by idealism or just plain stupid

forgive me, forgot where i was posting for a moment

I'm not calling you a libertarian, but the argument certainly is. I mean, if they tax cigarettes, then they'll want to tax red meat and then you will be jailed for eating bacon! The sky is falling!

This argument never really works, though.

If anything, while the precedent has been set that luxuries can be taxed by the government, neither tobacco or alcohol have been banned.

I don't really consider it an assault on our personal freedoms, and I don't think it's idealist when there's very little evidence to support that claim.

... The concept that there could be a tax on something like entertainment seems a silly analogy to make.

And while I'm not against a tax on soda, I am against a tax on soda if it's the government "end all, be all" solution. Like I said before Zero Hero, the subsidy is the really problem.

I'm not in favor of dumping the subsidy entirely either, but making it a subsidy for actual farmers and not corporations.

[brawndolicious]

Isn't obesity and diabetes caused by starchy foods and maybe just only slightly by raw sugars?

[The Fake Shemp]

American drinks don't have raw sugar, am nintenho.

They have high fructose corn syrup, arguably worse than sugar, and is relatively cheap thanks to corn subsidies (you can link that to starch on your own, right?).

[OptimoPeach]

There's no "arguably" about it, that shit is bad news.

Anyway, I thought they ended corn subsidies years ago, but I kinda live with my head in the sand, so yeah

[chronovore]

REAL TALK:

Why does this make everyone so mad?

Doesn't it piss you off that companies have been jacking their drinks full of corn syrup for decades? Doesnt it piss you off that enormo food corps have been exploiting the human diet and drive to consume to make mega profits while making Americans less healthy than ever? There's a place in India where Coke fucking DRAINED THE WATER TABLE DRY. A lawsuit means they now have to supply that town with water forever. Because they fucking used it all to make soft drinks. That doesn't piss you off?

What pisses you off is a 5 cent tax on your too-sweet soda? Gimmie a fucking break. Get real.

American drinks don't have raw sugar, am nintenho.

They have high fructose corn syrup, arguably worse than sugar, and is relatively cheap thanks to corn subsidies (you can link that to starch on your own, right?).

There's no "arguably" about it, that shit is bad news.

Anyway, I thought they ended corn subsidies years ago, but I kinda live with my head in the sand, so yeah

Is it even "arguable" at this point? Unless we're talking about studies funded by Coca-Cola, I thought it was pretty much proven that the crap is extra bad. At this point the companies should cease manufacturing with it, but their production process relies on HFCS to such a degree that producing questionable counter-studies and lobbying for the continuation of the corn subsidy in the age of corporate megafarming is more financially feasible. That, and no large group ever likes "change."

[GilloD]

REAL TALK:

Why does this make everyone so mad?

Doesn't it piss you off that companies have been jacking their drinks full of corn syrup for decades? Doesnt it piss you off that enormo food corps have been exploiting the human diet and drive to consume to make mega profits while making Americans less healthy than ever? There's a place in India where Coke fucking DRAINED THE WATER TABLE DRY. A lawsuit means they now have to supply that town with water forever. Because they fucking used it all to make soft drinks. That doesn't piss you off?

What pisses you off is a 5 cent tax on your too-sweet soda? Gimmie a fucking break. Get real.

American drinks don't have raw sugar, am nintenho.

They have high fructose corn syrup, arguably worse than sugar, and is relatively cheap thanks to corn subsidies (you can link that to starch on your own, right?).

There's no "arguably" about it, that shit is bad news.

Anyway, I thought they ended corn subsidies years ago, but I kinda live with my head in the sand, so yeah

Is it even "arguable" at this point? Unless we're talking about studies funded by Coca-Cola, I thought it was pretty much proven that the crap is extra bad. At this point the companies should cease manufacturing with it, but their production process relies on HFCS to such a degree that producing questionable counter-studies and lobbying for the continuation of the corn subsidy in the age of corporate megafarming is more financially feasible. That, and no large group ever likes "change."

The "bad"ness of HFCS is up in the air. The problem is that it doesn't just replace sugar, it adds sugar to our diet. A soda that had maybe 20g of sugar 40 years ago now has 38g. The WHO recommended daily intake for an adult male is 40g. One nice thing about Korea is sensible beverages sizes. Most beverages comes in 8 oz sizes. You can only nab 16 oz and up in America. And if I get 16 oz, I'll drink 16 oz. Human beings are programmed this way.

Anyway, Pepsi has that new Pepsi Natural made with sugar. But a 16 oz bottle has SIXTY- 6 0- 10*6- GRAMS OF SUGAR in it. Sugar is bad for you. We get most of the sugar our bodies need from carbohydrates. Now, a little added sugar isn't going to kill you and it fucking tastes good. So, have a soda now and then. ENjoy some ice cream. I'm not saying don't eat these things, but they have been engineered to fucking kill you.

In High School my Comp Sci teacher's brother was some bigwig at Pepsi. He wouldn't let his family anywhere near the stuff.

[brawndolicious]

American drinks don't have raw sugar, am nintenho.

They have high fructose corn syrup, arguably worse than sugar, and is relatively cheap thanks to corn subsidies (you can link that to starch on your own, right?).

I would argue against subsidizing corn to make biofuels but I'm not convinced of taking away all subsidies for it just yet.  It's probably the most important food crop in the world.

Chemically though, what does fructose do to you that sucrose doesn't?  They both make a most likely negligible amount of the total carbs you get everyday so I don't get how it would cause a huge insulin spike or be a major contributor to obesity.

There is correlative data between higher amounts of HFCS and obesity but well..no shit.  Obese people often eat more sweets than they should and low fat ice cream is still not that good for you.

[Cormacaroni]

A clip from King Corn, a documentary about corn production/HFCS:
[youtube=560,345]jDurZc5Yr6c[/youtube]

[brawndolicious]

That clip doesn't really show the ultimate point of the movie but according to the wiki summary, the documentary documentary is about how corn production gotten more and more industrialized and family farms have been getting driven away.  I'd imagine there was also a similar trend with potato production in Idaho and whatever.  I don't really get what the message or goal of the movie would be though.

Also, does anybody actually believe sin taxes curb consumption?  I just think of those taxes as the most morally acceptable way for the government to get the taxes it needs to function.  Like most people are more all right with a higher tax on an unnecessary good like alcohol then a higher tax on diapers.

Corn/HFCS is used in so many things that they can't put a sin tax on it directly.  If it is actually very unhealthy for you, this type of law would be like putting a sin tax on vodka and not beer.

[Cormacaroni]

Takeaways from King Corn -

- corn is in almost everything we eat now, sweetening everything unnecessarily and adding junk calories with zero nutritional value
- it's inedible to humans without a crazy degree of processing to turn it into syrup (sweet corn is relatively rare these days)
- it's literally poisonous to animals, including the cattle we force-feed it to. That's why corn-fed cattle are so riddled with disease. If they weren't slaughtered, they'd die at only a few years old on that diet.
- centralization and industrialization of food production result in perishable items being marginalized, and weird things that can sit for months in the open and have to have enzymes and acids applied to them to be even potable come to dominate. Nutrition is lost at the expense of raw calories in an easily-storable, transportable form. We can live on this stuff, but not thrive.

There's no point in taxing it with one hand while the govt. is paying subsidies for it with the other. The subsidies of course are an easy way to buy votes in the Midwest so they'll be hard to get rid of as well. The problems here are way too big to be solved by a tax on soft drinks; I'm sure the researchers in the OP realize that and are just doing this as a publicity stunt.

[brawndolicious]

- it's inedible to humans without a crazy degree of processing to turn it into syrup (sweet corn is relatively rare these days)

I'm confused by this point.  What do you mean by inedible?

And of course HFCS, like table sugar, isn't nutritious for you and just adds empty calories but is it really the main cause for our health problems?  I mean, if we want to cut back on the average American's caloric intake then the only realistic way is to cut back on starches/fats and that doesn't start with any taxes on corn or HFCS or anything, that can only happen through eating smaller food portions.

That is common sense.  It won't win any votes/get a bunch of publicity.  It will happen over several decades though probably I think.

[Cormacaroni]

inedible means "cannot be eaten".

Most people hear "corn" and think of that nice sweet corn-on-the-cob stuff. That isn't what we're talking about here. Sweet corn is a relatively rare crop these days. Humans literally cannot feed themselves on the type of corn grown in the movie without processing the crap out of it.

It's not the only cause of health problems, no. Smaller food portions are absolutely necessary for most folks these days. But if they're still eating junk instead of nutritious perishable real food, they will still be diseased even if not obese.

[Human Snorenado]

Corn makes it's way into almost everything.  My dog has to eat a super expensive type of dry dog food because corn meal is in most dog foods and it makes his skin super itchy and makes him stink to high heaven when he eats it.

[Cormacaroni]

Let me just add that I understand the sentiment (boiling up under the surface of am nintenho's posts here) that folks just need to get off their asses and stop eating so goddamn much. There is a great amount of truth in it. But it's still an oversimplification. You need to be concerned with quantity AND quality to eat in a way that won't slowly kill you, these days.

[The Fake Shemp]

Let me just add that I understand the sentiment (boiling up under the surface of am nintenho's posts here) that folks just need to get off their asses and stop eating so goddamn much. There is a great amount of truth in it. But it's still an oversimplification. You need to be concerned with quantity AND quality to eat in a way that won't slowly kill you, these days.

Ding ding ding!

A lot of obesity can also be traced to poverty, not laziness. Single parents and those under the poverty line probably work so much that they can barely rest, well enough monitor their children's physical education.

Not to mention that they'll buy all the cheap, easy-to-make foods at the market and none of it is good for you.

We've got a lot more problems than just lazy people.

[Fragamemnon]

Not to mention that they'll buy all the cheap, easy-to-make foods at the market and none of it is good for you.

This is the real problem IMO. You've got companies that are making products that are really terrible for you to eat.

Personally, I think we should have a new label-a huge fat person on a rascal scooter-that gets put on the box or bag of the shit food out there. Let people KNOW that what they are buying is crap and they'll pick something that's less crappy-there's a huge education issue made worse by decades of bad-and now ingrained-food policy. Also, programs to provide local fresh food co-ops and markets to inner cities and other under served areas so they can actually buy fresh produce at reasonable prices.

[Cormacaroni]

If everyone could afford to shop at farmer's markets and eat grass-fed meats and fish from the sea, we wouldn't have most of these issues. But good luck even FINDING a vegetable in many urban areas, never mind an organic one.