Peru is aiming to tackle obesity and unhealthy eating habits in the New Year.

This weekend Health Minister Alberto Tejada said he would support a tax on junk food.

“It’s an alternative that can happen, just as is done with tobacco or alcohol […] we fully agree with providing strategies to fight diseases that are created by poor eating habits,” he said, according to Andina.

Tejada said that money raised by the tax could be used to treat diseases associated with consuming junk food.

“We want tasty food without giving up what is good and nutritious. We don’t want to be abolitionists, but we believe that eating healthy, well, and at home, is a process. We’re interested in implementing health policies that aim in this direction,” he said.

He added that the tax would discourage consumption of foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar, such as burgers, fried chicken, French fries, pizza, and soda.

Tejada added that physical activity was also an important component for a healthy lifestyle, and said they were also looking into increasing the number of physical education hours in schools.

“We’re discussing this with the Ministry of Education, there are already terms in place, but there is a program that needs to be implemented first, which would involve teachers and develop a syllabus.”

The proposal would increase the hours of physical education in schools from two to five hours per week, reported Andina.