Imposing a tax on high-calorie drinks and junk foods is not a practical solution that will cure America's obesity epidemic. This action would have a more punitive effect on lower-income individuals and do little to motivate those with higher incomes to curb their excessive consumption of empty calories. There are alternative actions our government can implement to encourage positive behaviors, such as increasing the availability of public greenways and other places for physical activity. While the new taxes will certainly generate additional revenue, this step alone will not produce the behavioral changes needed to reverse obesity in Americans. Ultimately, change in individuals is most effective when it is their decision to change, not when it is forced by government action. There is no doubt that processed food, also known as junk food, is at least partially responsible for Americans' growing obesity. Processed foods are designed to be delicious, desirable and irresistible to consumers. Additionally, highly processed foods are stripped of many of their beneficial nutrients during the manufacturing process and have higher salt, fat, and sugar contents than unprocessed foods. Interestingly, fast food has many of these same qualities, making it equally desirable and convenient. According to Robert H. Lustig, MD, a well-known pediatric endocrinologist, fast food “is highly processed, energy-dense, and specifically designed to be highly palatable” (56). After returning home from a long day at work, it's easy for parents to give in to the comfort of a calorie-rich meal that their children will happily devour without objection. A healthy or unhealthy meal for a child comes to the rescue. To bet... middle of paper... individuals to embrace change because it is imposed on them; they must first want to change. Works Cited Bray, Ilona M. Healthy Employees, Healthy Business: Simple, Affordable Ways to Promote Workplace Wellbeing. Berkeley, CA: Nolo, 2012. Print.Slavicek, Louise Chipley. The Prohibition Era: Temperance in the United States. New York: Chelsea House, 2009. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Network. April 12, 2014.Duhigg, Charles. The power of habit: Why we do what we do in life and business. New York: Random House, 2012. Google Play eBook.Hanning, Joe. Interview via email. April 8, 2014.Lustig, Robert H. Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Foods, Obesity, and Disease. New York: Hudson Street Press, 2012. Print.Mailhot, Seth A. “Dispelling Myths About Tobacco Control.” Convenience Store Decisions 23.5 (2012): 20-23. Business origination completed. Network. April 2. 2014.