Abstract
This paper examines three alternative types of fat taxes to determine how effective they may be in reducing obesity. Upon the examination of the available evidence as to the effectiveness of fat taxes in reducing obesity authors conclude that all types of fat taxes are not sufficiently specific in targeting obesity. In some cases imposition of fat tax may actually lead to reversal of the intended effect. Therefore, the use of taxes to reduce obesity and promote healthy outcomes is not recommended.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chouinard,H. H., Davis , D. E., LaFrance, J. T., & Perloff, J. M. (2007). Fat taxes: big money for small change. Forum for Health Economics & Policy 10 (2).
Chuive, S., Sampson, L., & Willett, W. (2010). Do nutritional rating systems promote a healthy diet? An evaluation of the overall quality index (ONQI) and risk of chronic disease. The Journal of the Federation of American Studies for Experimental Biology. Abstract. Available at: http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/24/1_MeetingAbstracts/lb383
Clark, J. S., & Levedahl, J. W. (2005). Will fat taxes cause Americans to become fatter? An application to US meats. Selected paper at the International Association of Agricultural Economists, Brisbane, Australia, Aug. 2005.
Clark, J. S., Prochazka, P., & Levedahl, J. W. (2006). Fat taxes in a comprehensive food demand system. Montreal: The joint Canadian and Canadian Agricultural Economics Association Meetings.
Institute of Medicine. (2005). Food marketing to children and youth: Threat or opportunity? Washington D.C.: The National Academies Press.
Katz, D. L., Njike, V. Y., Kennedy, D., & Treu, J. (2007). Overall nutritional quality index, reference manual. Derby: Prevention Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, Griffin Hospital.
Katz, D. L., Njike, V. Y., Rhee, L. Q., Reingold, A., & Ayoob, K. T. (2010). Performance characteristics of NuVal and the Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQI). The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91, 1102s–1108s.
Kim, D., & Kawachi, I. (2006). Food taxation and pricing strategies to thin out the obesity epidemic. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 30(5), 430–437.
Schroeter, C., Lusk, J., & Tyner, W. (2008). Determining the impact of food price and income changes on body weight. Journal of Health Economics, 27, 45–68.
Smed, S., Jensen, J. D.,& Denver, S. (2005). Differentiated food taxes as a tool in health and nutrition policy, Selected paper at the European Association of Agricultural Economists, Copenhagen, Denmark, Aug. 2005.
Sohini, P., Dhar, T., & Baylis, K. (2009). The effects of a nutrient based tax scheme in Canada, Consumer Demand Research Network meeting. Ottawa May, 2009.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (Project No. MSM6046070906).