French Men and Women Do Get Fat
Saturday August 9, 2008
More than one-third of France's 60 million people are either overweight or obese. Not that there's any reason for Americans to be smug about this. Two-thirds of the U.S. population is overweight or obese. In France, bread, cheese and wine are not to blame, it seems. The government is setting its sights on the fast food industry. Its proposals include raising taxes on high-fat, sugary foods from 5.5 percent to 19.6 percent. This might sound like a good way to regulate people's eating habits, but those who can least afford it are likely to be hit the hardest.
Comments
Highly processed foods are the bane of any modern society. No longer are the simple foods (2 or less ingredients) the par for the course. Home cooking is more a matter of ordering in.
I try to keep my food intake as simple as possible. Low fat meat and vegetables. People do not seem to realize that some of the basics are low fat, bread for example…
When I visited France, I noticed a fair Proportion of Older People with some Weight Problems, but not the Younger People. The standard Joke for many Years was that French People Lived on Gauloise Cigarettes and Coffee especially the Women,and spent their Days in the Cafe’s Languishing over the one Coffee staring into their Lovers Eyes and Smoking Endless Gitanes and Gauloise’s and speaking in Husky Voices. Junk Food Emporiums is supposed to be making inroads into French Savoir Faire a La Cuisine and they are trying to arrest this.
All over the EU they are getting very worried about Over Weight Children, and in many Countries they are thinking of a Fat Food Tax not just in France. Not so many Children playing Games outside in the Fresh Air anymore , but stuck inside at the Computer playing Games on it like Super Mario.
Yes, junk food should be taxed. Here in WA state we are taxed on everything. Cigs have increased with taxes ($7.00 a pack). This money goes to women on welfare that keep producing children they do not know who the fathers are. The women do not want to work so with high taxes we are supporting them and all the children they produce. Now the other coin – I eat very healthy and food costs are very high. Where the junk food should be high and lower the costs of healthy food so people would strive to be healthy. Alot of people eat junk food, because they can not afford healthy food. Fruit and vegs are very high this summer. $2.99 a lb for peaches, nectarins, plums which are heavy fruits to begin with. I lived in Germany and England for many years and I left just when American fast food companies were barging in and setting up MacDonalds, KFC, and Pizza Huts. Europeans are gaining weight too and they claim it is the fast food – loaded with fat, sugar and salt. I read England is going to propose a fast food tax in their country. I am sure the fast food companies in the USA will fight the tax – it is all about money.
In Ireland they are talking about bringing in a Tax on Fatty Food and fast Food. A lot of this is coming from Bruxelles where they have a Think Tank on Policy in the EU and it Filters down to the different Countries Parliaments. They want to improve the Meals given in Schools and they are promoting Fruit as part of the Food in the Lunches also they want the Children to Participate in more Games.I think it is a good Idea to Tax unhealty Food but take the Taxes off Healthy Food as it is getting very Dear.
SNACKING is the problem. Why do people think they have to eat all the time? When did people start eating all the time?– When TV and fast food became popular. Don’t eat fast food if you can help it (most places have salads and you can just use half the dressing they give you, which is more than enough), don’t snack, and be reasonable about the rest. Do not tax it. I would, however, be in favor of higher insurance costs for overweight people (by the percentage overweight) and those who smoke.
“Yes, junk food should be taxed. Here in WA state we are taxed on everything. Cigs have increased with taxes ($7.00 a pack). This money goes to women on welfare that keep producing children they do not know who the fathers are. The women do not want to work so with high taxes we are supporting them and all the children they produce.”
Daphne, that is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Are you really that clueless?
You’re blaming fast food for people getting fat? Last I checked, McDonalds was not going around stuffing BigMacs down people’s throats. If you don’t want to get fat, don’t eat it. And the notion that healthy food is way more expensive than fast food is also ridiculous. When are people going to start being accountable for their own actions instead of blaming someone else? And then the government steps in. Why do you think taxes are so high already? And some people actually want to RAISE them? Get a clue, people.
Are you people serious!? You WANT MORE TAXES!! When are you going to realize that you should be responsible for your own welfare? Who needs the government to be our Mommy?! When will y’all grow up!?