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ABSTRACT. This paper discusses the over-consumption of unhealthy foods as a leading cause of the obesity epidemic in the United States. One possible solution that has gained significant attention in recent years is imposing health-related food taxes to reduce fat consumption. In considering the ramifications of a “fat” tax, we review the extant research on whether fiscal policy interventions can ameliorate obesogenic behavior. Food taxes can discriminate against those individuals on lower incomes as those individuals typically spend more of their overall income on food and access to healthier options is often limited. Further, the extant literature has been unable to estimate the effects of fat taxes on future consumption choices; namely, do consumers opt for healthier options or find less expensive, but equally harmful, substitutions? Ideally, health-related food taxes should be part of a more comprehensive approach to address the obesity epidemic rather than a standalone measure.

Keywords: health policy; obesity; food taxes

How to cite: Fox, Mark, Tracey Anderson, Sue Anderson, and April Black (2017), “Food Taxes: Can You Control Behavior and Health Outcomes through Taxation?,” American Journal of Medical Research 4(1): 93–110.

Received 9 November 2016 • Received in revised form 31 January 2017
Accepted 1 February 2017 • Available online 20 February 2017

doi:10.22381/AJMR4120177

MARK FOX
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Indiana University South Bend
TRACEY ANDERSON
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Indiana University South Bend
SUE ANDERSON
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Indiana University South Bend
APRIL BLACK
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Indiana University South Bend

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