French Women ARE Getting Fatter
The idea that French woman could live in the land of wine, cheese, and those mouth-watering pastries without gaining so much as an inch was such a phenomenon that it even spawned a best-selling book, French Women Don't Get Fat. And, yes, it may have created a little envy, too.
But as it turns out, French women do get fat, as do French men. According to Reuters, their obesity rates are very similar to those in the United States ... forty years ago.
The survey, which was sponsored by Swiss pharmaceuticals company Roche, found that 15.1 percent of women in France are obese, and over one in four are overweight. Nearly 14 percent of French men are obese, and 38.5 percent are overweight.
Blame city life, said one researcher involved with the study. "Obesity rates have really risen sharply in urban areas where there's a concentration of sedentary jobs, public transport, less need to walk and a much greater availability of food," Dr. Marie-Aline Charles told Reuters.
In this case, being decades behind the U.S. is a good thing. But the French should look to America as a cautionary tale, because clearly they're headed in the wrong direction.
The whole premise of French Women Don't Get Fat was the idea that women could eat whatever they wanted, as long as they balanced those high fat/calorie foods with low-calorie dishes and extra activity. Apparently in French cities, that balance is being lost.
I wonder how much of it has to do with the shift away from foods made with fresh, whole ingredients to processed junk. There's a big difference between mindfully sitting down to enjoy a deliciously sinful freshly made pastry -- knowing you'll balance it with a light lunch and a walk after dinner -- and carelessly shoving Twinkies in your mouth.
What do you think?
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I'd say it's probably a combination of French women eating more processed foods and not walking as much. I'm pretty sure they have Starbucks and other fast food places in France; people are probably getting busier and not worrying as much about the impact that these foods are having on their health.
Also, many of them are finally getting the memo about smoking being bad for you, so it could be the same thing that happened in America...people quit smoking and gained weight. You can't tell me that French women don't at least to some extent use cigarettes as a weight control option.
ReplyI used to live in France about 25 years ago. Traveling to a big city like Geneva or Paris, I would find the occasional McDonalds or Wendy's. It was always a treat to have a taste of home. About 12 years ago, I moved to Belgium and couldn't find a street corner that did not have some sort of american fast food chain or a frites stand.
Times have changed. Gone are the daily 3 course home cooked family lunches which have been replaced with a quick stop to a fast food place and a shopping spree at the local mall. Dinner used to be a little bowl of soup and maybe a small omelet. Now it is also a stop at the local frites stand. These frites stands serve a pita sandwich loaded with seasoned meat that would make Subways 12 inch look tiny. They then top it off with your choice of 100 different kind of sauces and then a pound of the crispiest frites you have ever eaten. They were amazing, but definetly the portions have gotten so out of control just like here.
It is amazing and sad to see how the world has been influenced by our bad eating habits. A McDonalds in the Lourve, what a shame!
ReplyNow that's just bad news!
ReplyThis just proves the importance of tradition... Our grandparents know so much more than we do when it comes to good eating habits!
It's the invasion of the American junk food chains. No wonder they hate us so much. :)
ReplyI found that book "French Women dont Get Fat" at my local 2nd hand book shop. I haven't read it yet, but will after this post. Maybe a traditional French diet meant you didnt get fat. Diet and lifestyle is changing in France the same as most western countries.
ReplyBefore I had read as far as the end of the article I was already thinking the same thing as the author. It probably has a lot to do with the proliferation of American junk food in French cities, the foods made from cheap carbs and vegetable oils that cause obesity, inflammation, and increased rates of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
ReplyThe fatties shall inherit the earth.
ReplyEverything is America's fault, right? Because we FORCE the French to eat our fast food. I mean they really have no choice....
Whatever
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