Increasing the rates of junk food through taxes could press people to opt for healthier foods and cutback obesity rate, suggests a novel study.
Researchers at the University of Buffalo, New York established that decreasing the taxes on healthy food products might not solve the purpose of reducing obesity.
But if unhealthy foods come with raised prices and taxes, people may automatically shift to healthier options.
Lead researcher and psychologist, Leonard Epstein, University of Buffalo said, “Some states are beginning to impose ‘sin taxes’ on fat and sugar to dissuade people from eating junk food, while others favor subsidies over punitive taxes as a way to encourage people to eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains.”