[Ed. Note: This is an amazing report, delineating the provable links between human health and government subsidies. Meat/Dairy: 63% - Fruits and Vegetables: 1%...and more. Please also read 2010 Farm (and Food) Bill and How Agriculture Subsidies Are Making Us Sick]

From Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)

Obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease are strongly related to dietary choices. In turn, dietary choices are influenced by government policies that affect the availability and cost of food. This report examines these health problems and policy factors that influence them.

Launched! PCRM's Campaign to End Subsidies for Meat and Dairy Products

As Americans filed their taxes in April, PCRM launched a new campaign against the government's spending of billions of those taxpayer dollars on subsidies that support the production of unhealthy meat and dairy products.

 

How Food Subsidies Tax our Health

Introduction

Americans are suffering from a high prevalence of obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. Although these conditions are largely preventable, they continue to harm millions of Americans and cause a mounting financial burden through health care costs.

Ten years ago, the Healthy People 2010 plan aimed to reduce the toll of obesity by 2010. At the time it was drafted, one in four Americans was obese.1 As the years went by, it became clear that this goal would not be met. On the contrary, obesity prevalence in 2010 had climbed to one in three. During the same interval, diabetes prevalence has increased as well, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecast that this worsening trend will continue for the foreseeable future. Cardiovascular disease and cancer remain the No. 1 and No. 2 killers of Americans.

Each of these conditions is strongly related to dietary choices. In turn, dietary choices are influenced by government policies that affect the availability and cost of food. This report examines these health problems and policy factors that influence them.

See the entire report on the PCRM website with these topics:

The Toll of Chronic Diseases
Dietary Trends and Chronic Disease
Government Support for Unhealthful Foods
Agricultural Policies Versus Health Policies
Evaluating the Impact of Government Policy on Consumption
Conclusion and References
News and Media