Writing response: Essay 3- Argumentation

Research finds soda tax does little to decrease obesity

In article “Research finds soda tax does little to decrease obesity,” Karen Faster discusses about tax increases on soda and how they might not have a big impact on people’s health improvement. According to new research that found, increasing tax on soda would only reduce the consumption but not the total calories that people consume. The study reviews two states that have already implemented soda taxes. Both Ohio and Arkansas began implementing these soda taxes in the early 1990s. The study even showed that weight and body mass index increased in the states of Ohio after the tax took effect. This is likely caused because people instead of drinking the taxed soda they changed to other high calorie thing.

My Response…

I agree with the view that tax increases will not have a big effect on people’s health improvement in America. There are many factors that cause obesity in America such as increasing portion sizes in restaurant meals that cause people to consume more calories. Combined with the lack of daily physical activity or low quality activity this is caused people become more obese. Other factors that could cause obesity in America are genes and family history, health conditions, medicines, the stopping of smoking, age, pregnancy, and lack of sleep because of extended work schedule. Soda is just one cause of many and I think for the best result of solving obesity we should consider all factors, not just increasing soda tax.