Tax on Junk Food: a Solution to Addressing Obesity in Canada

Introduction

Firstly, allow me to explain the negative effect of obesity in Canadian public health. Obesity is the cause of high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, cancer, osteoarthritis, and other health problems (Government of Canada, 2006). In Canada, 64% of adults the age of 18 and 30% of children aged 5 to 7 are overweight (Government of Canada, 2018). Studies revealed, 'Obese children have nearly tripled in the last 25 years' (Government of Canada, 2016, Background section, para 2). Similarly, Canadian Health Measures Survey shows, Canadians age 20-39 years have a Body mass index (BMI) that people aged 40 or older had thirty years ago (Eisenberg, Atallah, Grandi, Windle & Berry, 2011). As you can notice, the outcome of obesity for Canadians is frightening. To tackle this issue, implementing a tax on junk food could be an effective measure to encourage healthier eating habits and reduce obesity rates.

Negative Effect of Junk Food on Canadian Public Health

Furthermore, the negative effect of junk food on the human body is truly terrible. An increase in calorie intake and unhealthy ingredients are the leading factor of obesity. To put this into perspective, the University of California conducted a study with 43 sick obese children by reducing their sugar consumption from 28% to 10% and the result was remarkable. Fasting glucose decreased by five points, insulin levels fell by 50% and glucose tolerance greatly improved. This experiment reversed their metabolic disease in just ten days (Lustig, 2015). In particular study shows, there is a correlated phenomenon between junk food and obesity. Junk food includes high calories but low in nutritional value. It contains a high amount of fat and sugar without offering essential nutrients for good health.

Additionally, taxation on junk food is a highly beneficial step toward you and your Progressive Conservative Party. For your information, Canadian public healthcare is annually leaking billions of dollars due to the mishandling of the healthcare funds. Research found, failed to keep up with dietary recommendations on merely eight foods is costing Canadian citizens annually $13.8 billion. Simply Maintaining recommended fiber consumption would potentially save Canadian citizens annually $1.3 billion for cardiovascular diseases and $718.8 million for type 2 diabetes (Lieffers, Ekwary, Ohinmaa & Veugelers, 2018). As studies show, neglect of essential nutrients costs billions of dollars from public healthcare funds. Implementing tax would force consumers to pay attention to their eating habits and focus on the nutritional values of foods. Taxation would not only accumulate additional needed funds for Ontario but also attract more voters towards you in the next election. Your popularity would increase among Ontarians for taking the healthiest decision for them. This decision will immensely benefit the Progressive Conservative Party for being the saviour of the Canadian healthcare system.

Positive Impact of Tax on Junk Food

Although taxation on junk food does not interfere with individual liberty, many argue that people should choose their own dietary food choices, as a tax on fast-food can hurt low-income families. It is widely perceived that low-income populations consume more junk food than high-income ones, and taxation can be an obstacle for low-income individuals. To tackle this challenge, your government can emulate the success story from Mexico. Mexico is obtaining success by enforcing an 8% tax on sweetened beverages since 2014 (Batis, Rivera, Popkin & Taillie, 2016). Public purchase on taxed foods declined by monthly 5.1%, where low socioeconomic status (SES) households purchased declined by 10.2%, and medium (SES) household's declined by 5.8% (Batis el at., 2016). These extraordinary results indicate taxation doesn't impact low-income families, but rather their food consumption habits change dramatically. Raising the price of junk foods will convince low socioeconomic status households to consume less unhealthy foods, and hence reduce obesity rates.

Conclusion

To conclude, I want to inform you that many countries such as Chile, Japan, France, Norway, and Australia had already introduced a tax on junk food. Nowadays, people can access preferred fast-food directly to their living room through home delivery services. This cheap and convenient way to access this 'Junk food' has many social and economic consequences. To regain control of our health, we must implement a tax on junk food and pave the way forward for the future generation. Healthy food equals a healthy life. Overall a tax on junk food is genuinely needed to make a better world. I know you value the safety of Canadian citizens, and I look forward to the obesity solution. Please contact me if I can be of further assistance to your service.     

Works Cited

1. Government of Canada. (2006). The Health Risks of Obesity. Health Canada.
2. Government of Canada. (2018). Obesity in Canada: A Whole-of-Society Approach for a Healthier Canada. Public Health Agency of Canada.
3. Government of Canada. (2016). Childhood Obesity Rates Have Tripled in 30 Years. Government of Canada, Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada.
4. Eisenberg, M.J., Atallah, R., Grandi, N.C., Windle, S.B., & Berry, J.D. (2011). The Relationship between Body Mass Index and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes. The Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 27(4), 460-466.
5. Lustig, R.H. (2015). Added Sugar in the Diet: Dietary Recommendations and Food Industry Practices. Advances in Nutrition, 6(1), 1-12.
6. Lieffers, J.R.L., Ekwary, E., Ohinmaa, A., & Veugelers, P.J. (2018). The Economic Burden of Not Meeting Food Recommendations in Canada: The Cost of Doing Nothing. PLoS ONE, 13(7), e0196333.
7. Batis, C., Rivera, J.A., Popkin, B.M., & Taillie, L.S. (2016). First-Year Evaluation of Mexico’s Tax on Nonessential Energy-Dense Foods: An Observational Study. PLOS Medicine, 13(7), e1002057.