According to a new USDA report, the United States government is spending billions of dollars subsidizing things that increase obesity and health problems while spending only a fraction on healthy food subsidies. Corn subsidies especially have led to lots of cheap, low-quality foods -- everything from high-fructose corn syrup, to chips, to the high-sugar sodas Americans (kids especially) consume in huge volume.
Subsidies for corn, wheat, rice, soybeans, and cotton totaled over $15 billion in 2009. Subsidies for fresh fruits an vegetables were only $825 million in the same year. So in effect, Americans are paying double -- through federal taxes and then again at the grocery store -- to get fat and unhealthy. Some experts believe that corn and grain subsidies are a major reason for the obesity epidemic in the US.
On the other end of the spectrum, a new USDA report (created for Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign against childhood obesity) showed that when prices of healthy foods -- like green veggies and lowfat milk -- fall kids lose weight. When the price of candy, soda, and sweets fall kids gain weight (as measured using BMI or body mass index).
We think: The US is the only major country where poorer people tend to be fatter. That's because we subsidize cheap junk foods filled with empty calories but little-to-no real nutrition. Until healthy foods is just as affordable as unhealthy packaged junk food the obesity problem is only going to increase!
Learn some mo': Surprise! Subsidizing Healthy Food Helps Kids Lose Weight
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