Tax the fatties?

Raikiri · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:31

ElRazur said:
A question though, how do you classify one as frivolous?

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=frivolous ?

MarkyMark · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:32

Stretch said:
If you want to carry extra baggage on the plane then you pay more. I can't see why this shouldn’t also apply to the passenger. .

I'll be the first to admit i'm a bit of a chunky monkey

even though my BMI is under 30 (not that it means much anyways)

But according to your argument then it would work if you had someone in extreem physical condition. i.e. You could have a 6"5 bodybuilder in better shape than anyone on this forum. And then you could have a 4"5 fatty with lots of different health problems. Now chances are that the smaller guy is still lighter than the taller guy, so in this case the taller healthy guy gets charged more on a flight than the smaller fat guy.

This would also be the same with two normal health people. If one was 5"0 and the other was 6"0 then the chances are the taller guy should be heavier (still being medically healthy) But by using your strategy the tall guy through no fault of his own would then have to pay more. Then chances are sexism would get brough into it aswell because generally women are lighter than men, so it would mean they travel cheaper too

I see your point though unfortunately I don't think it would hold much ground if they tried to enfore it.

Doohickey · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:32

ElRazur said:
I think he meant the latter one.

A question though, how do you classify one as frivolous?

Any cosmetic surgery that is not reconstructive, or corrective e.g. for deformities, congenital things is not paid for by the NHS. I.e. things like breast enhancements, botox, bum implants.

ElRazur · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:34

Raikiri said:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=frivolous ?

Exactly my question.

How do tell someone who thinks she's depressed and psychologically imbalance and the only solution is a breast implant, that it is not needed?

Raikiri · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:36

ElRazur said:
Exactly my question.

How do tell someone who thinks she's depressed and psychologically imbalance and the only solution is a breast implant, that it is not needed?

Then they need counseling not surgery.

holly35 · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:37

ElRazur said:
The documentary was really annoying and kinda fuuny at the same time, In all seriousness it would **appear** the presenter know what he was talking about.

Did you see how fiercly it was rubbished by one of the student (the female one), i think the idea can be said to be positive discrimination but implementing it will be difficult if not impossible.

yeha i know what u mean, some bits i wanted to laugh at, some bits i couldnt believe he was being so harsh, and then others i thought made sense!

Yeah that female gave him a right grilling!

I think the problem with the subject is that when u first hear the concept u think "WHAT? U cant do that!!!" but then once u hear the arguments put across it makes abit of sense.

Doohickey · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:37

ElRazur said:
Exactly my question.

How do tell someone who thinks she's depressed and psychologically imbalance and the only solution is a breast implant, that it is not needed?

Whether there will be any psychological benefit is assessed in all cases quite thoroughly, and if for whatever odd reason, she does actually require breast implants to alleviate her mental state, then it would probably be considered.

Edit: But what Raikiri said is probably the likely option, psychotherapy, counselling etc.

ElRazur · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:38

Raikiri said:
Then they need counseling not surgery.

See the thread on Body Dysmorphia.

It is the same principle with those who **thinks** their life wont be ok without a plastic surgery.

Counselling dont do anything unless they actually get what they want...in this case an Implant.

Loki · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:39

I think the idea of taxation as suggested by VIRII is a workable idea as long as the extra revenue is ring fenced and reinvested in education and subsidisation of healthier options. The reason for this is that the ones who are clinically obese demographically come from poorer backgrounds who do not have a great understanding of food nutrition. Moreover as they are the ones who are likeley to have a smaller income the choice that we can make of going to the gym regularly and purchasing a bike maynot be so easy.

Doohickey · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:40

ElRazur said:
See the thread on Body Dysmorphia.

It is the same principle with those who **thinks** their life wont be ok without a plastic surgery.

Counselling dont do anything unless they actually get what they want...in this case an Implant.

You're talking about a small minority of people, unless people start claiming that they 'need' such and such for psychological purposes. Most people will ask for something purely on cosmetic grounds and will be assessed as anyone else and rejected.

ElRazur · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:43

Loki said:
.

One question though, how easy and cheap it is in the uk to buy healthy food?.......Very!

I think it all boils down to habit (not speaking of those who have other medical complications here) Eat healthy = Look and **feel** healthy.

ElRazur · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:44

Doohickey said:
You're talking about a small minority of people, unless people start claiming that they 'need' such and such for psychological purposes. Most people will ask for something purely on cosmetic grounds and will be assessed as anyone else and rejected.

But all those who get surgery paid for via the NHS seems to use the same "i need it or i will die" excuse.

holly35 · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:47

my friend got breast implants on the nhs, she got them by making a fuss about her lie being psychologically effected by having small boobs. So the nhs cant thoroughly do checks if she could blag it easily, she only went from an a cup to a c though, so nothing extreme!

Loki · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:48

ElRazur said:
One question though, how easy and cheap it is in the uk to buy healthy food?.......Very!

I think it all boils down to habit (not speaking of those who have other medical complications here) Eat healthy = Look and **feel** healthy.

Partially. But your missing the key ingredient; Education. Depends on what you consider to be healthy food. If you are talking fruit and veg then I agree but to get the other things to look for leaner cuts of meat or to learn how to cook with pulses, beans, rice, pasta, Oils high in poly unsatures etc. All of which people know but fail to take heed of when planning meals

Beansprout · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:50

Sirrel Squirrel said:
They already pay more tax anyway due to the fact they eat more food meaning they pay more VAT, obviously they don't on stuff that doesn't have VAT though. That is a really narrow minded approach but sort of makes sense.

You don't pay VAT on (most) food. iirc.

Loki · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:53

Beansprout said:
You don't pay VAT on (most) food. iirc.

Correct. Its only luxury items that you pay vat and some of those are 5% taxable as the key ingredient could be milk or something like that

Velocity · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:53

If there was tax on the 'bad' foods and tax relief for the good foods. Maybe the proceeds from the tax could go towards acutally helping people who have a problem, clinics, pratical help and advice. Most of the problem is poor food education.

If you are addicted to eating it's a bit like smoking in a way not matter how much a packet of fags cost people are still going to buy them that goes for a hamburger.

Smithy · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:54

Didnt bother reading whole thread as i saw red as soon as i read the thread title.

Tax the ******* Fat?! How about they clamp down on spending god knows how many millions of pounds on funding god knows how many immigrants that seem to flock to this country like the animals to noah's ark.

What a joke.

Greenlizard0 · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:54

I've not really read all the tread due to it turning into a slight slagging match but I reckon there sort of has to be a balence.

In some situations I think it would be fair to tax those who are overweight. For example aeroplane seats. If you're over weight due to a medical disorder etc then fair enough. But if you're over weight because you've eaten too much and haven't done enough exercise then like suitcases, you can pay for the extra fuel that will be needed. Why should those that aren't fat have to cough up extra for the plane to lift off, whereas before they wouldn't have? I don't think it's fair on them.

I think the tax on fatty foods is a great idea as well. Ciggies are taxed as well as booze. In moderation the former two of these three "vices" are probably not going to be bad for you, but make it a pathological habit then you run the risk of e.g. having to use the NHS. Tax booze and fatty food heavily, then you may actually put people off. Not being able to afford e.g. ciggies is probably the single most common reason for smoking abstinence seen in clinical practice.

rlm · 7 Jun 2006 at 19:56

holly35 said:
my friend got breast implants on the nhs, she got them by making a fuss about her lie being psychologically effected by having small boobs. So the nhs cant thoroughly do checks if she could blag it easily, she only went from an a cup to a c though, so nothing extreme!

I still think thats quite shocking, I didn't realise this kind of cosmetic surgery is available through NHS funding, what kind of age is she? Why can't people just be happy with how they are. Not a dig, just an oppinion.