Time for a Sugar Tax or VAT on some foods

ukcarper

zagubov wrote: »

Apparently if you want people to think before they eat, you need to stick a mirror on their fridge door. I reckon a digital scales just in front of it would also do that job.

I think the mirror would be more effective is to relate to than a number. But I still don't think it would be that effective it's not knowing you are overweight but being able to do something about it.

ukcarper

cells wrote: »

Yes and no I've never been very fat but I have been overweight

I used to be about 80kg at my peak which was overweight according to BMI and the mirror. Post an inital diet to go from 80kg to 70kg I've managed to stay between 68-71kg for years only having put on some weight over the last 6 months when I stopped measuring with scales. This mornings reading was 71.5kg so will consciously eat better and exercise a little until that gets to 70kg

of course I appreciate its very hard to lose weight but I think digital scales will help greatly in stopping some people gettig to that stage in the first place

I don't think you are the type of person who would become overweight to the extent that it would effect your health and weighing yourself helps, but as someone who does suffer from weight problems I know it would not be effective for me and people like me.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

antrobus wrote: »

Type 1 diabetes isn't "completely preventable". Quite the reverse, nobody really knows the cause; probably genetic, maybe triggered by some kind of virus.

Even for Type 2 diabetes genetics is a major risk factor. As is race, so I'm not sure you can say it's "completely preventable".

My boyfriend has Type 1 diabetes (diagnosed in his early 30s which is unusual), so I do know the difference. I do wonder if the two types should be renamed to avoid confusion. I don't have much sympathy for Type 2 guzzlers I'm afraid.

Re compulsory scales for every household; I've never lived anywhere with scales and genuinely don't know how much I weigh- it's never bothered me as long as I can still fit into my clothes (always been a size 10, still wear jodhpurs bought 21 years ago) and don't get out of breath going up the stairs. I actually think fixating about weight is quite unhealthy and not a good idea for teenagers with body issues.

I'd like to see parents educated about what "children's food" should be (a healthy adult's meal, but a smaller portion). If a food product has cartoon characters on the packaging, it is almost certainly complete cr4p and this should be pointed out. The marketing of junk to children is insidious, but difficult to regulate without accusations of nanny stating.

skintpaul

People will still want these 'bad' foods- why aren't they (or high sugar / fat / salt content) banned, if so harmful?

Pennywise

Generali wrote: »

Personally, I'd be in favour of a soda tax in the UK. Simply making sodas, fruit juices and cordials VATable would be simple and cheap to implement. The big problem with those sorts of drinks is they add a huge amount of sugar to your diet without sating you in any way or really adding any nutrition.

They already are VATable as are crisps, chocolates, fast food, etc.

Carl31

Increasing the cost of junk food will not work on its own, however if you taxed the junk and then subsidised healthier options that my work

The underlying problem isn't the food though, or the cost. I think many of us tend to eat pretty healthily most of the time because we want to, then we can have the occasional blow out or treat and not worry about getting diabetes as a result. As already said, cost won't change things, people are already paying over the odds for fast food, it'd education, if you are brought up eating crap, that's what you will do as you move into.

If the government really wanted to help they would ban processed food, but money comes before health ultimately

beecher2

Being overweight has become the 'norm' and so I think many people simply don't realise that they need to lose weight. When they show archive film from the 70s or 80s it is always a bit of a jolt to see how thin people look!

Vanity sizing has got something to do with this - easy to tell yourself that your clothes have shrunk if you can still get into the same size in shops. I was a size 10 in the 80s and am now a size 6, even though I'm probably half a stone heavier.

purch

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

I don't want to live in a nanny state, but it's hard not to be alarmed by the amount the NHS has to spend on this completely preventable condition.

Please don't post absolute nonsense.

If Type 2 Diabetes was caused by being overweight then millions more would have the condition and the hundreds of thousands who have the disease whoi are not overweight would be cured.

Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic condition.

purch

ukcarper wrote: »

I do wonder why we are continually told healthy food is expensive it's not only bananas that are cheap you can get 6 apples for less than a pound 4 peaches for the same amount a couple of carrots for 10p.

Strangely enough, all of those foods would be bad for a TYpe 2 Diabetic to consume.

Generali

Pennywise wrote: »

They already are VATable as are crisps, chocolates, fast food, etc.

Thank you, I didn't know that.