Lifting the heavy burden of obesity

A tax on highly processed foods could help change consumer behaviour about the over consumption of food according to an academic at The Australian National University. Professor Sharon Friel from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health in the ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, says that a so-called 'Fat Tax' has the potential to save millions of lives and billions of dollars. Tonight on ABC Radio National's Big Ideas program, Professor Friel will join a panel including Associate Professor Adrian Kay from the Crawford School of Public Policy in the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific and Geoffrey Annison from the Australian Food and Grocery Council, where they will debate the complex issues associated with taxing certain types of food. Professor Friel said that although the panel may not agree with every aspect of a food tax, something needs to be done to reduce the levels of obesity in Australia. "There is a large financial burden on Australia's health and social systems as a result of the obesity crisis in Australia. Taxing foods would not only raise public revenue but it could also help reduce the medical costs associated with obesity," said Professor Friel "A recent Australian report found that a ten per cent tax on unhealthy food could significantly reduce the burden of disease associated with obesity." Professor Friel said that while a food tax could present a greater financial burden to those on low incomes compared to higher income groups, there were ways to support low income households to change consumption habits towards more healthy options.