Scottish doctor urges "fat tax" on chocolate
Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:54am EDT
By David Brough
LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Scottish doctors came within a whisker of passing a motion calling for a "fat tax" on chocolate last week, and the doctor behind the move said chocolate was a root cause of increasing obesity.
"Certainly the U.S. and the UK are affected by rising levels of obesity," David Walker, a family doctor in Airdrie, western Scotland, who proposed the motion, said.
"If the British government is serious, they should tax chocolate in the same way as they tax alcohol," he said in a telephone interview.
Walker said on Wednesday that Britain had witnessed almost a doubling of cases of type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity, in the past 15 years.
In Scotland, nearly one in four people are obese, he added.
He said British people's fondness for chocolate must explain in part the growing obesity problem, because chocolate is high in calories, fat and sugar.
Chocolate was one of a number of factors, including growing affluence and more sedentary lifestyles, that had contributed to Britain's fatter society, Walker said.
The Scottish doctors' conference in Glasgow on March 12 defeated the motion to tax chocolate by just two votes.
Walker's call attracted vigorous debate in the national media as healthy lifestyle becomes an increasingly hot topic.
The UK Food and Drink Federation, the voice of the companies in the sector, lambasted Dr Walker's message.
"Introducing regressive taxes on the foods that consumers love would result only in lighter wallets, not smaller waists -- particularly as we already have to pay VAT on all our chocolate purchases," said Julian Hunt, director of communication.
"While good for grabbing headlines, there is no evidence to suggest that such 'fat taxes' would actually work in reality."
Walker said the positive health benefits of chocolate, such as the antioxidants in dark chocolate, which cut risks of cardiovascular disease, are counterbalanced by chocolate's contribution to obesity due to its high calories.
"Chocolate should be treated with respect -- it should be treated as a luxury item, a special treat," Walker said.
"It should be eaten quite infrequently."
Walker said he admitted to feeling guilt over the impact a chocolate tax might have on impoverished West African cocoa farmers if demand for chocolate fell.
"That is certainly something that has pricked my conscience," Walker said.
"It would take a very brave government to tax chocolate," he added.
Wei, CANNOT! How am I gonna live?!?!?!?! Hahahaha. Sigh, okay la fine, should cut down on chocolate. I wonder how much weight I'll lose if I stop eating chocolate? :D
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
UBC Lake
On the Weather Network website:
Flood Risk for BC Lower Mainland
100 mm of rain is expected to fall on the BC South Coast by Wednesday evening. With snow still covering much of Metro Vancouver, parts of Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley flooding is a serious concern.
*Hello, UBC is already a gigantic lake of campus if you haven't already noticed?*
RAINFALL WARNING: Greater VancouverIssued at 8:28 PM PST TUESDAY 6 JANUARY 2009
TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS UP TO 80 MM EXPECTED FOR METRO VANCOUVER, SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF EAST VANCOUVER ISLAND AND SUNSHINE COAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 80 TO 110 MM EXPECTED FOR HOWE SOUND AND FRASER VALLEY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 100 TO 130 MM EXPECTED FOR WEST VANCOUVER ISLAND AND THE CENTRAL COAST - COASTAL SECTIONS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THIS IS A WARNING THAT SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING IN THESE REGIONS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS.
*Oh boy. 10cm of rain. Will UBC ever have a rain day (you know, like snow days where we don't have to go to school)???
Where is all our precious tuition money going to? Non-progressive construction and muddy puddles in the ground?? PAVE the roads so we don't go to school in a giant lake for goodness sake!
Thank goodness for my rainboots.
Flood Risk for BC Lower Mainland
100 mm of rain is expected to fall on the BC South Coast by Wednesday evening. With snow still covering much of Metro Vancouver, parts of Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley flooding is a serious concern.
*Hello, UBC is already a gigantic lake of campus if you haven't already noticed?*
RAINFALL WARNING: Greater VancouverIssued at 8:28 PM PST TUESDAY 6 JANUARY 2009
TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS UP TO 80 MM EXPECTED FOR METRO VANCOUVER, SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF EAST VANCOUVER ISLAND AND SUNSHINE COAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 80 TO 110 MM EXPECTED FOR HOWE SOUND AND FRASER VALLEY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 100 TO 130 MM EXPECTED FOR WEST VANCOUVER ISLAND AND THE CENTRAL COAST - COASTAL SECTIONS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THIS IS A WARNING THAT SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING IN THESE REGIONS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS.
*Oh boy. 10cm of rain. Will UBC ever have a rain day (you know, like snow days where we don't have to go to school)???
Where is all our precious tuition money going to? Non-progressive construction and muddy puddles in the ground?? PAVE the roads so we don't go to school in a giant lake for goodness sake!
Thank goodness for my rainboots.
Monday, December 29, 2008
This is shocking and sad..
Dec 20, 2008
The 40-year-old told reporters outside his church, Renewal Centre, in Serangoon that he was diagnosed with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, or Kennedy's disease.
He had earlier told the congregation about his condition, which strikes one in 40,000 people and is incurable.
Doctors have told him that in the next seven to 15 years, he will face 'physical impairment', but the disease does not affect life expectancy.
Mr Chew, who is married with two daughters, aged four and six, said his legs have become weaker but he is not taking painkillers or medication for the condition.
He said he is trying to live a normal life but has been advised by doctors not to engage in strenuous activities such as jogging.
The 1990 Star Search champion said that he first experienced back pains in 1997. He consulted Western doctors and Chinese physicians and all of them diagnosed it as a slipped disc. But the treatments had no effect on him.
Last year, the pain worsened and spread to his waist.
In September this year, a doctor who attended the same church as Mr Chew referred him to specialists, who finally diagnosed his condition as spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.
He said in Mandarin: 'The doctors told me, 'Chor Meng, you have to start spending more time with your family'.'
The actor is famous for playing the Lobang King in the 1996 Channel 8 sitcom, Don't Worry Be Happy, and the titular character in the Channel 5 sitcom, Mr Kiasu from 2001 to 2002.
He is now seen in the drama, Love Blossoms II, where viewers had observed that he seemed to be limping.
Chew has incurable illness
By Jasmine Teo
The 40-year-old told reporters outside his church, Renewal Centre, in Serangoon that he was diagnosed with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, or Kennedy's disease.
He had earlier told the congregation about his condition, which strikes one in 40,000 people and is incurable.
Doctors have told him that in the next seven to 15 years, he will face 'physical impairment', but the disease does not affect life expectancy.
Mr Chew, who is married with two daughters, aged four and six, said his legs have become weaker but he is not taking painkillers or medication for the condition.
He said he is trying to live a normal life but has been advised by doctors not to engage in strenuous activities such as jogging.
The 1990 Star Search champion said that he first experienced back pains in 1997. He consulted Western doctors and Chinese physicians and all of them diagnosed it as a slipped disc. But the treatments had no effect on him.
Last year, the pain worsened and spread to his waist.
In September this year, a doctor who attended the same church as Mr Chew referred him to specialists, who finally diagnosed his condition as spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.
He said in Mandarin: 'The doctors told me, 'Chor Meng, you have to start spending more time with your family'.'
The actor is famous for playing the Lobang King in the 1996 Channel 8 sitcom, Don't Worry Be Happy, and the titular character in the Channel 5 sitcom, Mr Kiasu from 2001 to 2002.
He is now seen in the drama, Love Blossoms II, where viewers had observed that he seemed to be limping.
Last night, when he was asked what he was most concerned about, Chew became emotional and said: 'My mum, my wife and my children.'
Oh no this is so sad. I genuinely feel very sad after reading this article. He was one of my favourite local actors.. All the best to him, and I hope he stays strong..
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