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AMA wants tax on junk foods

by William Atkins

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Page 2 of 2

The AMA also wants a ban on junk food advertising that is targeted toward children and a national nutritional labeling system, which would be applied to the front of all such products.

The AMA position is based in part on this statement, “There is evidence that obesity and excess weight in childhood and adolescence is a strong predictor of obesity or health problems in adulthood.”

By increasing prices on unhealthy foods and decreasing prices on healthy foods, the overall cost of food would remain the same on a year-to-year basis. Capolingue states, "Australians should not have to pay more at checkout to live healthier lives." [The Australian: “Tax junk, subsidise fruit: AMA”]

Within the Position Statement on Obesity by the AMA is the statement, "There is abundant evidence that prices influence people's consumption choices and levels, including prices set through taxes and subsidies.”

In addition, in its “Position Statement on Obesity” the AMA makes the following nutritional statements:

"The AMA reaffirms its position that all Australian mothers should be encouraged and supported to solely breastfeed their babies for the first six months of life (unless there are medical contraindications)."

"Whole of school curriculum programs around nutrition, with the provision of only healthy food choices in the school context, should be promoted so that children have a greater capacity for nutritional literacy, and for making healthy choices later in life."

"The marketing and promotion of energy-dense/nutrient poor food to children should be prohibited."

"A simple and uniform ‘front of pack’ system of nutritional labelling for packaged food should be mandated, and supported by an ongoing public education campaign. Clear information about nutrient content should also be provided."

Significantly higher taxes (and therefore higher prices) should apply to products known to significantly contribute to obesity, especially in children (for example, sugary soft drinks).

"Foods known to be healthy, such as fruit and vegetables, should be subsidised by government to ensure their prices become and remain very low, particularly in remote areas."

"Governments should strongly encourage the food industry and retail food outlets to adopt measures to reduce the production, sale and consumption of energy dense and nutrient poor products."

"Urban planning regulations should ensure that new housing developments make provision for local access to retail outlets for fruit and vegetables (eg. local grocery stores or supermarkets)."

Capolingue also stated, "The AMA challenges the Federal Government to set firm goals and targets in preventing and reducing obesity, especially in our children. We know that the commitment is there, now we need to see the Government getting involved - to see implementation of initiatives that will have impact.” [MedicalNewsToday.com: "Getting Obesity Under Control - Australian Medical Association Position Statement On Obesity”]

This policy would make good sense for all countries having obesity problems such as the United States.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are more than one billion overweight adults (in a world with 6.6 billion people). Of those overweight adults, at least 300 million are obese.

To find out more if your country has an obesity problem, please go to the WHO website: “What is the scale of the obesity problem in your country?”.

In the United States, in 2005, according to the WHO obesity chart, over 35% of adult men (fifteen years and older) and over 40% of adult women are obese. (A body to mass index of over 30 is considered obese.)

As another comparison, about 21% of men and about 24% of women in the United Kingdom are obese.

For Australia, the WHO obesity chart places about 23% of men and about 25% of women at the obese level.

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