As we see here, obesity and very low body weight are both associated with worse mental health outcomes. Merely being overweight, interestingly, seems to be associated with better mental health outcomes. This tracts, being overweight isn't necessarily associated with the kinds of unhealthy or dangerous behavior that obesity is - that's just a problem of quantity rather than quality.

IANAD but I think obesity is the real killer.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Is this tax not hurting the most vulnerable group the most?

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

That's why I favor outright banning added sugars, or even better, improve their lives so much that they don't want to fill the void with sugar.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Banning added sugar? From what?

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml -1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Well to start, everything that's included in this sugar tax. Does anyone really need this garbage?

But really, it's more important to give people lives that are good so they don't get sucked in to unhealthy behaviors.

Give people something to live for any they won't kill themselves.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

How is banning sweet food in its entirety supposed to help give people something to live for? It only makes life shitter

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Not what I said.

I said I prefer a ban instead of a tax. A tax just bans sugar for the poor. A ban effects everyone, so it's fair and more effective.

But also, the optimum solution instead of a tax or a ban would be to make people's lives better so they don't kill themselves.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I wonder how much diabetic deaths would increase with no easy access to sugar

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 months ago

To clarify, I didn't say to ban the ingredient itself, just foods with added sugars i.e. sugar-sweetened beverages, sugary snacks and junk food, sugary breakfast cereals, etc. We're talking about this in context of the tax, which doesn't ban raw bags of sugar.

If someone wants a teaspoon of sugar in their coffee at home then whatever, that's not the source of the public health crisis. The problem is from convenience and processed foods. We could solve the problem. We won't.