https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/08/covid-cdc-study-finds-roughly-78percent-of-people-hospitalized-were-overweight-or-obese.htmlKEY POINTS- About 78% of people who have been hospitalized, needed a ventilator or died from Covid-19 have been overweight or obese, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new study Monday.
- Just over 42% of the U.S. population was considered obese in 2018, according to the agency's most recent statistics. Overweight is defined as having a body mass index of 25 or more, while obesity is defined as having a BMI of 30 or more.
- "As clinicians develop care plans for COVID-19 patients, they should consider the risk for severe outcomes in patients with higher BMIs, especially for those with severe obesity," the CDC wrote.
While I'm not a big fan of taxes, it's really time to add a Fat Tax. Fast food, candy, soft drinks and alcohol and other highly sugary foods. 15% tax (because most of it is cheap) and reduce subsidizes to the sugar industry.
Before I get flamed, I'm fat. I've already dropped 35lbs via a proper diet and counting calories/portion control. I also used to be very fit/lifter and I carry a lot of muscle so my BMI will never be 'right' and I also understand the BMI calculators are highly flawed. However, it's very easy to not pay an additional tax by simply not purchasing the foods that are leading to a large health crisis even before COVID. Taxes would stay local and go to hospital systems and/or business that move into underserved areas (assuming they're not rioted and burned down). And to make sure the taxes aren't pilferred, no more than 5% of it can be spent on administration of sending those funds back out.
aTm '99