Would a Fat Tax Encourage People to Eat Healthier?

The idea of a fat tax seems to have become popular amongst policy makers and politicians in recent years as a potential way to deal with the impending obesity crisis. More people are now classed as overweight and obese than ever before, which is putting greater strain on health services and undermining economic productivity. Taxing food that is high in fat is seen as a way of deterring people from eating as much fattening food, whilst also providing extra revenue for the health provision that obese individuals are more likely to need.

However, would a fat tax really encourage people to eat healthier and to make the right choices at meal times? Probably not, when even healthy food isn't particularly cheap. Instead of subsidising the cost of fresh food and vegetables to provide individuals with a positive incentive to eat better, governments throughout the developed world seem intent on punishing individuals for making what they see as the wrong choices. All kinds of food – whether deemed healthy or unhealthy – are going up in price, so that in most people's minds it doesn't really matter what kind of food they eat, since they are going to end up paying more for it, anyway.

Why would they want to change their habits when they are used to eating processed meals and snacking on junk food – food that is quick to prepare and tastes good? Many people do not even recognise what a healthy diet actually is, which slapping a tax on food high in fat isn't going to remedy. Fat isn't the cause of rising obesity levels and is an essential nutrient in a balanced diet, so what message is a fat tax sending out? It is basically suggesting that all fats are bad and that politicians know best. Both well-informed individuals and those lacking the necessary information about diet and exercise are punished for eating what someone else proclaims is unhealthy.

Surely, it is up to the individual how they spend their money and what they eat, rather than the role of the state. It is evident that the notion of a fat tax has become popular because politicians want to make it look as though they have the power to tackle the problem of obesity, whilst, in actual fact, they are more concerned with generating revenue – whether or not the money raised goes to educating people about healthy eating and providing health services for obese individuals.

The chances are a fat tax on its own will do very little to encourage people to eat healthier and to maintain a healthy weight when everyone has to eat and it is still possible to consume too many calories regardless of fat content. At the end of the day, it is people's excessive calorie consumption that is fuelling weight gain, an issue which a fat tax fails to address. Despite this, it seems that more and more governments throughout the world are giving serious consideration to the role a fat tax could play in tackling obesity.