With the rapidly growing obesity rates in North America, a “fat tax” may not be such a bad idea. Similar to the tax imposed on tobacco, which has – in combination with graphic labels – cut down the rate of smoking from over 50 percent in the 1960s to less than 20 percent today, the same can be done with junk food. Society has grown accustomed to the idea of junk food and obesity, vigorous campaigns to change the public perception will be needed.

Source: http://queensparkdental.ca/wp-content/uploads/quitSmoking.gif

One of the major culprits is the simple phrase, “a calorie is a calorie”. It has been scientifically proven that if one consumes more calories than one burns, weight loss will occur. That is fact, and cannot be disputed. However, it fails to take into account all the other factors. Junk food is often calorie dense and do not provide much in terms of satiety. Education on the various factors that play into health can play a huge role in encouraging consumers to make the better, healthier choice.

Source: http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/a66/news/national/article4631242.ece/ALTERNATES/w620/oma.jpg

While adding a graphic warning onto junk food may seem unappealing at first, it has worked for the tobacco industry before. The obesity problem that plagues us today is eerily similar to that of smoking almost half a century ago. However, junk food has not been villainized the way smoking has been, and it is still socially acceptable to be “big”. Consumers need to be educated on what they are putting into their bodies and the detrimental effects it can have down the road. Negative advertising and a “fat tax” on junk food will definitely shape the future for the better.

Source: http://healthdoctrine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/no-junk-food-vending.jpg

In response to:

https://blogs.ubc.ca/benedictachan/2012/10/23/buy-this-pizza-itll-turn-your-liver-black/