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Do you think obese/overweight people should pay more for health insurance?

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Replies

  • Posts: 2,862 Member

    So we should penalize what?

    Assembly line food production methods?
    Standardization of food production?
    Speedy turnaround between order and delivery?

    this.

    People pick on fast food way too much IMO. Most fast food places have (1) calorie info clearly available, and (2) plenty of lower calorie choices. (FYI- lower calorie choice really is as simple as buying just 1 burger and maybe a value fry off the $1 menu or the smaller size of chicken nuggets instead of the '5 for 5' or 'grande meal' or whatever). So much easier to eat somewhat reasonable calories than a restaurant or pub.
  • Posts: 852 Member
    TheRoadDog wrote: »
    Maybe a Tariff should be placed on Fast Food Restaurants.

    How could anyone, in the age of the smart phone in nearly everyone's hands not know it's a bad idea to consume the majority of your meals at fast food restaurants?

    Make people pay the consequences of their choices and stop trying to blame others.

    I think that general policy would address a whole host of bad choices that people make.

    If we bail out bankers for making poor banking choices, will bankers ever learn? - Probably not.

    If we bail out people who make poor health choices, will they ever learn? - Probably not.

    We can look at a whole host of issues and see where the bailouts do not result in changes in behavior.

    Passing risk and consequences to others does little to educate those who take the risks.
  • Posts: 4,855 Member

    I'm not a tax expert, I'm not sure if the food taxes where I live qualify as excise taxes or not. Even if they don't, I'm already paying taxes on food. Paying more for certain foods because other people can't control themselves is objectionable to me especially when the list of foods is bound to be random and heavily influenced by politics and food fads.

    Excise taxes are taxes paid when purchases are made on a specific good, such as gasoline. Excise taxes are often included in the price of the product. There are also excise taxes on activities, such as on wagering or on highway usage by trucks. One of the major components of the excise program is motor fuel.

    https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/excise-tax

    You typically don't see the excise tax on alcohol as it is included in the price. They tax you see at the store is the local and/or state tax.


    https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/2013/44854
    In 2012, the federal government collected $9.7 billion in revenue from excise taxes on distilled spirits, beer, and wine. The different alcoholic beverages are taxed at different rates. ... The current excise tax levied on those spirits, $13.50 per proof gallon, translates to about 21 cents per ounce of alcohol.

  • Posts: 4,855 Member
    edited June 2018

    Donuts have nutrients -- my body is capable of using the fat, protein, carbohydrates in them. In the context of a varied diet where nutritional needs are being met, I'm not sure what harm you think they're going to do to someone.

    Sure donuts have nutrients, although the fats, proteins and carbs in them are the "bottom feeders" in that the doughnut is very nutrient poor for the calories in the product.

    Understand all food has nutrients. However in the context of a heath and fitness site where many confused people come to learn about nutrition, IMO saying an item has "nutrients" to many this would mean it's nutritious (defined as: nourishing; efficient as food) which I'm sure we can all agree it's not.

    As I said earlier, nothing wrong with an occasional donut. I read an article by a Phd in nutrition who stated a 12 oz can of regular pop every couple weeks would be reasonable consumption for a typical individual. I'm guessing the same would apply to donuts. Have a feeling most who consume donuts do so much more frequently than 1 every couple weeks.
  • Posts: 25,763 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »

    Excise taxes are taxes paid when purchases are made on a specific good, such as gasoline. Excise taxes are often included in the price of the product. There are also excise taxes on activities, such as on wagering or on highway usage by trucks. One of the major components of the excise program is motor fuel.

    https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/excise-tax

    You typically don't see the excise tax on alcohol as it is included in the price. They tax you see at the store is the local and/or state tax.


    https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/2013/44854
    In 2012, the federal government collected $9.7 billion in revenue from excise taxes on distilled spirits, beer, and wine. The different alcoholic beverages are taxed at different rates. ... The current excise tax levied on those spirits, $13.50 per proof gallon, translates to about 21 cents per ounce of alcohol.

    Okay, I think I understand. Yes, I'm opposed to excise taxes on specific food items if the reasoning is to discourage people from choosing that food.

    But it seems like excise taxes can be levied for all types of reasons -- surely nobody tries to explain the excise tax on truck highway usage as a way to discourage commerce. There are other justifications that are used, presumably, for that tax. There is a long history of taxing alcohol in the US so I'd want to see some better evidence before assuming the initial justification was to discourage alcohol use instead of being, say, a tax levied on an optional item for which there was high demand and offered a reliable revenue stream for the government.
  • Posts: 25,763 Member
    edited June 2018
    Packerjohn wrote: »

    Sure donuts have nutrients, although the fats, proteins and carbs in them are the "bottom feeders" in that the doughnut is very nutrient poor for the calories in the product.

    Understand all food has nutrients. However in the context of a heath and fitness site where many confused people come to learn about nutrition, IMO saying an item has "nutrients" to many this would mean it's nutritious (defined as: nourishing; efficient as food) which I'm sure we can all agree it's not.

    As I said earlier, nothing wrong with an occasional donut. I read an article by a Phd in nutrition who stated a 12 oz can of regular pop every couple weeks would be reasonable consumption for a typical individual. I'm guessing the same would apply to donuts. Have a feeling most who consume donuts do so much more frequently than 1 every couple weeks.

    I don't have access to any data on donut consumption that would validate your feelings on the subject, so I'm not sure.

    I don't consider that a healthy diet has to be devoid of all food items that don't meet your standard for "nutritious" (I understand you aren't arguing this either), so if the argument is that all such items should be taxed additionally to discourage consumption, I disagree. That there is a level at which people can consume donuts (or soda or heavy cream or gummy bears) that allows one to maintain a healthy weight is sufficient for me. I think we should focus on the real driver of obesity and that's consuming excess calories.

    When I initially wrote that donuts had nutrients, it was in the context of responding to someone who declared donuts had "no nutritional value." That's simply not true and that is what I was correct, not making the argument that the donut is a nutritional powerhouse (I don't think it has to be in order to justify why I think donut shops shouldn't be targeted with additional tax laws).
  • Posts: 651 Member
    I think the only objective way to do this is to require a certain nutrient density in food to avoid taxes. I don't think it's really a useful thing to do, though, and I can't imagine it having any impact on obesity.
  • Posts: 25,763 Member
    fuzzylop72 wrote: »
    I think the only objective way to do this is to require a certain nutrient density in food to avoid taxes. I don't think it's really a useful thing to do, though, and I can't imagine it having any impact on obesity.

    The thing is, I can't think of any way to measure nutrient density in relation to calories that doesn't also rope in foods like oil, butter, cream, maple syrup, jams, salad dressings, and other common foods that aren't typically classified as "junk." Maybe proponents of punitive food taxes are okay with that, but it seems less than ideal.
  • Posts: 651 Member
    edited June 2018

    The thing is, I can't think of any way to measure nutrient density in relation to calories that doesn't also rope in foods like oil, butter, cream, maple syrup, jams, salad dressings, and other common foods that aren't typically classified as "junk." Maybe proponents of punitive food taxes are okay with that, but it seems less than ideal.

    I agree. However, if your argument against doughnuts is nutrient density, then go all in and set a nutrient density line in the sand. You'll include a lot of whole foods if you do that, though, and (hopefully) realize how silly the whole idea is.
  • Posts: 25,763 Member
    fuzzylop72 wrote: »

    I agree. However, if your argument against doughnuts is nutrient density, then go all in and set a nutrient density line in the sand. You'll include a lot of whole foods if you do that, though, and (hopefully) realize how silly the whole idea is.

    If my understanding of human nature is correct, you'd probably also see a lot of gaming in the system (like manufacturers determining exactly how much they had to add to a donut or cookie in order to meet the minimum nutrient density tax cut-off point) while smaller businesses and more traditional foods would still be taxed. So quickly you'd have a big confusing mess where the Kale-Infused Quinoa Super-Donut by Frito-Lay isn't subject to the tax, but people are still paying extra taxes on jam made with just sugar and strawberries or on coconut oil.
  • Posts: 5,727 Member

    If my understanding of human nature is correct, you'd probably also see a lot of gaming in the system (like manufacturers determining exactly how much they had to add to a donut or cookie in order to meet the minimum nutrient density tax cut-off point) while smaller businesses and more traditional foods would still be taxed. So quickly you'd have a big confusing mess where the Kale-Infused Quinoa Super-Donut by Frito-Lay isn't subject to the tax, but people are still paying extra taxes on jam made with just sugar and strawberries or on coconut oil.

    Yeah, Picture Dunkin Donuts doping with Metamucil/multivitamins.
  • Posts: 7,122 Member
    First there is an ethical decision on whether or not you think it appropriate for the government or insurance agencies to actively punish people for behaviors they wish to discourage. Once you decide that the answer to that is "Yes" then I would think the solution is fairly obvious...target those behaviors. I find it strange that a lot of people seem to want to target things incidental to those behaviors instead. Almost like the idea of punishing a person directly for their behavior makes them too uncomfortable but they still want to discourage that behavior by interventions.

    If you want to discourage obesity then put policies in place that punish obesity itself. Taxing food doesn't do that.

    If insurance companies raise rates on people who qualify as obese that is direct discouragement of that behavior. If instead you tax chocoolate or fast food then that doesn't affect obese people who don't eat those things (yeah, you can be obese without eating chocolate or fast food) and it does affect people who eat those things but are not obese. Why do that? As soon as you are willing to be interventionist why not just go after the thing you actually want to stop directly instead of just dancing around it with taxing things just loosely related at best.

  • Posts: 6,252 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    First there is an ethical decision on whether or not you think it appropriate for the government or insurance agencies to actively punish people for behaviors they wish to discourage. Once you decide that the answer to that is "Yes" then I would think the solution is fairly obvious...target those behaviors. I find it strange that a lot of people seem to want to target things incidental to those behaviors instead. Almost like the idea of punishing a person directly for their behavior makes them too uncomfortable but they still want to discourage that behavior by interventions.

    If you want to discourage obesity then put policies in place that punish obesity itself. Taxing food doesn't do that.

    If insurance companies raise rates on people who qualify as obese that is direct discouragement of that behavior. If instead you tax chocoolate or fast food then that doesn't affect obese people who don't eat those things (yeah, you can be obese without eating chocolate or fast food) and it does affect people who eat those things but are not obese. Why do that? As soon as you are willing to be interventionist why not just go after the thing you actually want to stop directly instead of just dancing around it with taxing things just loosely related at best.

    I've been noting for some time that taxation is the tool de jour of the passive aggressive personality disorder.
  • Posts: 852 Member
    I'm a simple guy, I like simple examples.

    If I have two kids and one makes the bad decision to throw his dinner in the trash, not eating it, taking food from the other kid doesn't teach the first kid to make better choices.

    Pretty obvious, right. Yet that is in essence what is proposed when people suggest we tax X, because it's bad. It isn't focused on those making the bad choices. I can eat a reasonable portion of chocolate, or bacon, or donuts, or whatever. So putting a tax on those items isn't going to change my behavior. Taking money off of my plate will not improve my behavior.

    Nor will it improve the behavior of those making the bad choices. Why? They don't pay the full consequences of their choices in the tax donuts scenario. Seems the most effective lever is to let the consequences fall on those and ONLY those who make the bad choices.

    Eat enough cheezy poof or even Kale to become as big as a house and you've made a bad choice somewhere. The person who buys cheezy poofs only for a birthday or Christmas party and doesn't make them a diet staple will simply be harmed by a food tax with no benefit to society.

    If the goal is to change behavior, then you have to target ONLY those who engage in the behavior. Any other means harms society as a whole. It impacts those who don't engage in the bad behavior and it fails to significantly impact those who do.
  • Posts: 2,240 Member
    Thankfully our system has a set price for everyone, but then gives incentives for people who complete certain lifestyle improvement initiatives. So currently if you test as a non-smoker you get a monthly discount $360 annually. If you simply complete a health risk assessment you get $240 annually. So as much as $600 a year, or $50 a month off premiums. All voluntary and there are no standards of health that have to be achieved to qualify (except being a non-smoker).

    To me, as someone who strives for a healthy lifestyle I believe this is fair and more than justified.
  • Posts: 136 Member
    ChaelAZ wrote: »
    Thankfully our system has a set price for everyone, but then gives incentives for people who complete certain lifestyle improvement initiatives. So currently if you test as a non-smoker you get a monthly discount $360 annually. If you simply complete a health risk assessment you get $240 annually. So as much as $600 a year, or $50 a month off premiums. All voluntary and there are no standards of health that have to be achieved to qualify (except being a non-smoker).

    To me, as someone who strives for a healthy lifestyle I believe this is fair and more than justified.

    I like the idea of this way better than increasing premiums because of adverse health conditions, especially if it's paired with subsidized health programs (that are flexible enough to accommodate all types of home situations/work schedules/family commitments) to improve fitness, diet, etc. There are several companies that do this "carrot" method, and I think it's easier to motivate people to get healthy for a prize versus fining them for their current state. Certainly feels more humanizing.
  • Posts: 12,019 Member

    The reason Corn and Soy are subsidized is because thats what they are feeding to the "beef," cows. The government will never advocate other vegetables until the the demand goes down for beef and dairy. Why would they? That's where they make all their money.

    I think the cows get the leftover from making corn and soy oil, which is a bit disturbing to begin with considering a grazer's natural diet.
  • Posts: 2,862 Member
    The goal of the farm subsidies was probably to keep the farmers afloat in more difficult times so we would not face a food shortage later on (a possible concern decades ago). (I do remember from history class that at one point dairy farmers were taking a loss by sending milk to market versus dumping it out due to rising transportation costs - this was of concern to the government). If your concern is food shortages causing (more) people to starve to death or succumb to diseases of malnutrition, then it makes sense to subsidize higher calorie density foods. (I doubt they foresaw the future desire for high volume low calorie foods due to people wanting to stuff their faces with massive volumes of food..it didn't used to be so cheap and over-abundant). One also needs to take into consideration what will actually grow where....the climate in most of the US & Canada isn't exactly mediterranean. A lot of stuff isn't going to grow in New York state. Corn will.
  • Posts: 3,377 Member
    Most of the corn subsidies go to either corn that is grown for bio-fuel or for feedlot corn. Very few of them go to food-grade corn that is sold for human consumption. The dairy subsidy is the main reason that we are not paying upwards of $10 a gallon for milk.
  • Posts: 25,763 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »

    I think the cows get the leftover from making corn and soy oil, which is a bit disturbing to begin with considering a grazer's natural diet.

    This is US-specific, but according to the government most of the corn grown in the US is used to feed cattle and 70% of the soy is used to feed animals in the food system. They're not getting the "leftovers." Subsidies for corn and soy are effectively subsidies for beef, chicken, and other foods produced from/by animals. We're already making ground beef cheaper.

    https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/corn-and-other-feedgrains/background/

    https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/coexistence-soybeans-factsheet.pdf

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