Poor diet and physical inactivity in the United States are estimated to cause about 310 000 to 580 000 deaths annually due to cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
The economic cost of diet-related diseases has been conservatively estimated to be at least $71 billion annually (this estimate considers only coronary heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes). Despite the great need, there are too few programs designed to promote healthier diets and physical activity. Even the largest nutrition education programs receive negligible support. For instance, the National Cancer Institute spends only about $1 million annually on the media component of its 5-A-Day campaign to encourage greater consumption of fruits and vegetables (G. Stables, National Cancer Institute, oral communication, April 16, 1999).
In contrast, the soft drink industry alone spends more than 600 times that much on advertising each year, and the restaurant industry spends more than $3 billion annually on
advertising.4 Coke and Diet Coke are supported by $154 million; M&M candies, by $67 million; Lay’s potato chips, by $56 million; and Kool-Aid beverages, by $19 million.
To compensate for an unhealthy food environment, it has been suggested that foods high in calories, fat, or sugar be subjected to special taxes and that the cost of healthful foods, such as fruits and vegetables, be subsidized. A steep tax would probably reduce the consumption of the taxed foods and could be used to generate funding to subsidize healthful foods. It is likely that such a subsidy would increase sales, but there are mixed opinions on the feasibility and desirability of a steep tax. In contrast, a small tax may be more politically feasible and still could generate significant revenues to support health measures.
