Are 'fat taxes' the solution?

Findings from Friends Provident's Visions of Britain 2020 report into Health & Wellbeing in the UK show that 44% of people support the introduction of a "fat tax" with over a third (38%) agreeing that the NHS should not prioritise people who fail to look after their health. The issue of whether raising taxes on fatty foods and penalising unhealthy behaviours can curb Britain's growing obesity epidemic was aired on the BBC's flagship Panorama programme on Monday, 15 November.

Continuing unhealthy lifestyles of British people mean the NHS will come under increased pressure on resources and budgets and may have no choice but to cut back on some of the free treatment currently enjoyed in the UK, penalising those who fail to look after their health.

Experts who contributed to Friends Provident's report suggested that the NHS may be forced to introduce penalties as a solution to relieve the strain on the service with predictions that obesity surgery and drugs may no longer be free by 2020.

Trevor Matthews, chief executive officer of Friends Provident, said: "Visions of Britain 2020 reveals that there will be a fundamental and permanent change in the provision of free healthcare in the next decade. The study identifies a disconnect between aspirations for healthcare, and our behaviour. We all need to adopt healthier lifestyles or else risk being faced with penalties in the years ahead."