Taxing junk food to counter obesity

C. Franck, S.M. Grandi and M.J. Eisenberg

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 11, 1949-1953

Abstract: 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 likelytobeakeydeterminant of tax success in the fight against obesity. Copyright © 2013 by the American Public Health Association®.

Keywords: beverage; economics; fast food; health care policy; health promotion; human; legislation and jurisprudence; North America; obesity; procedures; public opinion; tax; article; fast food; health promotion; legal aspect; methodology; North America; obesity; tax, Beverages; Fast Foods; Health Policy; Health Promotion; Humans; North America; Obesity; Public Opinion; Taxes, Beverages; Fast Foods; Health Policy; Health Promotion; Humans; North America; Obesity; Public Opinion; Taxes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301279_1

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301279

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