Taxing Unhealthy Foods May Be Our Only Option

In the article, "Bad Food? Tax It, and Subsidize Vegetables," written by Mark Bittman, it is discussed that the main contributor to obesity found amongst Americans is based on the amount of spending that goes into promoting unhealthy food for consumers. When the food industry does everything with the idea of, "how much can I profit from this product?" in mind, the battle against changing our eating habits gets harder and harder. Knowing that a large percentage of Americans are diagnosed with obesity aren't doing much about it becuase no healthier options are being advertised. Cheetos on a commercial look more appetizing than a brocolli does in a store... that is just how the food industry operates and I am concerned with the future of American health and spending. The article goes on to say that, "rather than subsidizing the production of unhealthful foods, we should turn the tables and tax things like soda, french fries, doughnuts, and hyperprocessed snacks." I completely agree with this article and it perfectly ties into my research paper because my topic concerns unhealthful advertising in low-income communities. Taxing foods that are harmful to one's health will do more help than harm and not enough people are aware of that fact. We must become more of a generation that cares about what we are deciding to put into our bodies. Promoting healthy and clean eating is a major priority in the fight against diabetes, obesity, and other diseases affecting the heart. 

My research topic is on how unhealthy advertising is affecting low-income communities immensely. This artcle and the other written by Waters, show the reader that promoting a healthy lifestyle cannot be done alone. I found this website on how unhealthy advertising affects children at such a young age. It could be helpful for psychological aspects of advertisement as well as "the cause and effect."

http://www.apa.org/topics/kids-media/food.aspx