A fast food tax in Romania. Levies on chocolate in Denmark. Restrictions on trans fats in Spain. As the European population gets larger, many governments are seeking to legislate better health.

Can governments really legislate a svelte population? A number of governments in Europe, concerned about the growing waistlines of their citizens, seem to think so.

The Spanish government wants to ban excessive trans fats, Denmark will soon be taxing sweets and in Romania, Health Minister Attila Cseke has said he would like to see a tax on unhealthy food.

In Germany, too, there are some in Berlin who would like to see a government offensive against girth. In a Monday interview with the Rheinische Post, Green Party floor leader Renate Kunast wants to ban advertising for sweets aimed at children.

"Aggressive advertising campaigns aimed at children 12 years and younger should be forbidden," Kunast told the paper. "Food commercials, which are mostly ads for sweets, should not be broadcast during children shows. We need a ban."