Diet Community

Hi and thanks for your posting. In states throughout the union, similar scenarios are being played out. You see apparent inequities (mansion repair when jobs are few and far between) and watch taxes changing up on food and beverages. TN is going after soda, while other states are looking at sugar and/or salt intake. As the WebMD posting before you noted (along with countless others on this discussion group), where is this money going? As I have noted along the way, any moneys collected need to be designated for programs that improve health and wellbeing. There have to be specific designations to get the credible return on investment. Certainly some kind of return so that you can graduate from wilted veggies to something much better.
Dr. Peeke

dont be rediculous, pizza can be healthy with some nice veggie toppings, and stop after one or two slices! chase soda if you must tax something - there are your empty caolries

No it will not reverse obesity. I've had issues with food for many years and never did the cost of an item keep me from eating it if I wanted it. The same goes for cigarettes, alcohol, etc... I've worked hard to change my eating habits because I have wonderful things to live for. I also quit smoking 10 years ago for the same reason. I have a drink or two on my birthday and New-years. If that makes me a sinner, so be it I only bring this up because these are areas plagued by the same such "Taxes". As an adult I think I'm capable of deciding my own path without governmental interference.

Taxes like these discriminate against obese people, smokers, and people who choose to drink alcohol... none of which is illegal. It is not the role of Government to decide what products are safe and healthy and what products are not. Using that as an excuse to raise taxes is an insult to our intelligence, hurts businesses and our economy.

Yikes! As a matter of principle, I would vote against governmental controls over people's freedom of choice. I am much more in favor of positive campaigns for healthy lifestyle or support for such. Rewards motivate more than hand-slapping and condemnation! Weight loss and healthy living is a complex problem and not soley based on behavior.

Thanks so much for your posting. It seems that most people are definitely not in favor of a Nanny State and food policing.

Supporting healthy lifestyle with educational campaigns seems to be the way to go.

Thanks for your input!

Dr. Peeke

This is an area that really makes me angry. Taxing soda pop and pizza is ridiculous. The government has taken upon itself to tax cigarettes out the ying-yang and alcohol is what should be taxed the highest. Cigarettes aren't killing as many people as alcohol is. I'm sick of the government imposing taxes that are "sin" taxes. What gives them the right to do so when some of them are committing bigger sins than any of the taxpayers are and at taxpayers expense. When government at any level can't take care of the big problems they focus on the little problems. That's something my husband taught me years ago and it's true.

The government getting involved in obesity issues is ridiculous and unconstitutional. If they want to regulate how our food is manufactured to insure it's safe, okay. But to put taxes on certain foods and beverages that can be controlled by individuals is not what they should be doing. We don't need big brother to regulate what we eat and taxing what we sometimes eat. However I still stick to the fact that yes, cigarettes are bad for you and are being taxed way too high, to the extent that those who have been smoking all their lives are giving up food in the grocery store to support their habit they don't want to give up. My mother stopped smoking and still sneaked one in now and then until she got lung cancer and died in three months time. I've seen many people die from alcohol from accidents, disease caused by alcohol and we've all seen innocent people killed in car wrecks by alcohol impaired drivers with the drunks usually living and the innocents dying.

I used to smoke and I quit. I used to drink and I quit. I saw my mother die a horrible death from a lifetime of cigarettes and friends that died from alcohol diseased bodies. Horrible.

People are going to continue to eat what they want to eat until they are able to bring themselves under control. They need support and encouragement, not ridicule and shame. Everyone is beautiful in their own way no matter how much they weigh or what they look like, or what race, creed, color, etc. that they are. It's an individual thing and people are not going to be helped by taxing certain foods and drinks.

I'm a proponent of having want-to-be parents or going to be parents required to go through parent education to learn about both parenting and nutrition, and how to detect problems with eating and what to do about them. Foster parents and adoptive parents can't get children without going through these programs and they should be a part of education starting even in schools. I've seen great results of parenting education programs for people that have kept their families together and have become more healthy along with it.

Taxing isn't the answer.

Who said anything about NY? This is nothing but what researchers are talking about, not a law.

Get off your high horse. Taxing pizza and soda would have no impact on obesity at all. Look at the super size fast food meals available. They're taxed and people still buy them and overeat.

People should take accountability of their lives and as a nutritionist you should know that. Aren't you trying to help change their lives and their eating patterns.

You're a jerk. Too bad this thread is so old no one will read this.

Dr. Peeke,

Let me mention that I live in a state where you are taxed just for being alive--CALIFORNIA! We already have the Prop.65 law.

Taxing pizza and soda are not viable means of discouragement from eating those foods. I'm an avid cook and I'm not afraid of making my own pizza, from dough to topping. What I'd like to suggest is buying a good cookbook and learn how to make some of these "fast" foods yourself. I grill my own burgers. I learned how to make my own crispy baked fries. I can do tacos and burritos better than Taco Bell! It's all in the choices we make. The soft drink industry, though, is huge. Whatever state is deciding to do this tax is going to get some real fizz through the nose from Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and all their relatives.

Why pizza? That's absurd.

absolutely not! inform & advise but it is every persons right to make thier own choices.