New Fat Tax on Sodas

Leaders in New York are proposing a new fat tax on the soft drink industry, claiming that sodas are to blame for obesity in the United States. Public officials in New York and other states see the tax as an opportunity to have an affect on the diets of the general population and cut health costs due to obesity.

It is estimated that almost 20 percent of children in the United States between 6 and 19 years old are obese, which increases the risks of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and premature death. Health experts say that insufficient exercise, fast food, and sugary sodas are to blame.

Beverage companies says that they have reduced calories in schools by removing full-calorie soft drinks and offering lower-calorie, more nutritious, and smaller-portion options. Leading beverage companies, including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo say that 88 percent less calories are now sold in their drinks when compared to 2004.

Video Game Tax to Fight Obesity

A New Mexico legislator has proposed a new tax on video games and televisions to try to fund a fight against childhood obesity. The bill, called “Leave No Child Inside,” would levy a 1 percent tax on some home-recreation devices and use the money to fund outdoor programs for children. It is estimated that twenty five percent of New Mexico’s children are overweight or obese.