Unhealthy eating has a negative effect on both individuals and the society in which they live. Some people think that the government should tax unhealthy foods while others believe that a 'fat tax' is unfair and unnecessary. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

There is no doubt that the obesity epidemic has had a tremendous impact on the world around us.

This

has led some to believe that we should introduce a 'fat

tax

' on the least healthy

foods

.

However

, there are many that feel that

this

approach is restrictive and unjust. In

this

essay, we will attempt to explore both of these ideas.

Firstly

, why are unhealthy

foods

so dangerous? It has been well established in scientific literature, that cardiovascular disease is by far the largest cause of mortality in the world today. Obesity and diabetes are huge risk factors for

this

disease.

Therefore

, a healthy diet, specifically reducing the intake of

foods

with low nutritional value, is of the utmost importance. By implementing a higher

tax

on these

foods

, we could hypothetically reduce their consumption, and potentially encourage people to eat more healthy options.

On the other hand

, some would say

this

methodology would be incredibly harsh, especially on lower-income homes. It would essentially mean that only the richest could afford these

foods

. We

also

have to consider the fact that as humans, we like to have the freedom to choose. In fact,

this

kind of policy could lead to a huge backlash by the public, and lead some to even increase their intake of these higher

tax

items, as a means of rebellion. In conclusion,

while

I do feel that a higher

tax

on less healthy

foods

could be beneficial, it is by no means a silver bullet. There has to be more education on how to live a healthy lifestyle, for all levels of our community. There

also

needs to be more affordable options in terms of establishing a healthy diet.