Attack on Snacks
Making snack foods pricier could combat obesity.
Perhaps a snack tax would be more effective than a tax on sugary drinks for reshaping the way we eat. Based on economic modeling, British researchers are suggesting that a 20% price increase on highly processed snack foods like candies and chocolates would reduce calorie intake in the U.K.’s population enough to bring about an average weight loss of 2.9 pounds over a 1-year period.
That change could lead to significantly fewer weight-related health issues. The snack tax was predicted to result in about six times more poundage lost than a similar tax on sugary drinks. Any governmental policies that zero in on reducing sugar, salt and saturated fat intake in the populace also incentivize a higher consumption of healthy foods, which is the key to their success.
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.
