Open AccessTaxing Junk Food to Counter Obesity
Author(s) -
Caroline Perrin,
Sonia M. Grandi,
Mark J. Eisenberg
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2013.301279
Subject(s) - excise , obesity , junk food , environmental health , revenue , subsidy , business , yield (engineering) , public economics , tax revenue , intervention (counseling) , medicine , economics , finance , market economy , materials science , psychiatry , metallurgy , macroeconomics
We examined the advantages and disadvantages of implementing a junk food tax as an intervention to counter increasing obesity in North America. Small excise taxes are likely to yield substantial revenue but are unlikely to affect obesity rates. High excise taxes are likely to have a direct impact on weight in at-risk populations but are less likely to be politically palatable or sustainable. Ultimately, the effectiveness of earmarked health programs and subsidies is likely to be a key determinant of tax success in the fight against obesity.