Obesity in France

Obesity in France has been increasingly cited as a major health issue in recent years. It is now considered a political issue whereas before it would have been an issue reported on television talk shows or in women's magazines just a few years prior.^[1] There is a myth about French people not getting overweight or obese.^[2] The myth is so strong that some scientists think that there is a connection between obesity and genetics.^[2] France is ranked as the 128th fattest country.^[3] The issue has caused a shock in France.^[4]

Obesity levels in France have doubled between 1995 and 2004 (to 11.3% of the population).^[2] However, France has the lowest obesity rate in Europe.^[5]

Nord-Pas-de-Calais is considered the fattest region in France. Fifty-one percent of the population here is considered either overweight or obese. This is in contrast with France's national average at 42 percent.^[1] Between 1992 and 2000, in the region obesity in girls double while the total for boys grew by 195%.^[4]

Obesity in children is growing at a faster rate than obesity in adults. Obesity in children is growing at a rate of 17% while obesity in adults is growing at a rate of 6%.^[1] At that rate, people in France will be considered as fat or obese as Americans by the year 2020.^[1]

Overall, the French, along with the Italians and the Swiss, are considered among the slimmest people in Europe on average.^[6] 38.5% of men and 26% of women in France are considered overweight while 60% of men and 43% of women in Germany are considered overweight.^[7] Estimates show that 16% of French five-to-11-year-olds are obese. Obesity in that age is set to increase to more than 20% by 2010. These percentages are approximately the same as the United Kingdom for the two-to-15 year olds.^[4]

France became the first European Union country to state that childhood obesity rates have started to level off while drastic increase in childhood obesity rates continue in most European countries. France is approximately ranked in the middle European childhood obesity rates rankings.^[8] Researchers have said this is caused from "government policies, a growing awareness of the dangers of obesity and the fact that children are eating less."^[8]

Stereotype

Historically, France has been known for its slender people and longevity. This has led to their role as the "nutritional role model for Europe".^[4]

Mireille Guiliano wrote the book French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure which explains why French women eating in the traditional way are less inclined to be obese than their American counterparts and shares French women’s secrets to staying slim while eating well.

Causes

Blame has been put on fast food, prepared food, the widespread presences of unhealthy snacks, sedentary lives and the loss of "common food culture."^[1][2] French tradition of not opening the refrigerator between meals for a child isn't frowned upon as it once was.^[1] Fat content in the French diet has increased steadily to the point where it is predicted that obesity-related diseases will start to increase.^[5]

McDonald's is more profitable in France than anywhere else in Europe. Sales have increased 42% over the past five years.^[1] Some 1.2 million French, or 2 percent of the population, eat there every day.^[1]

Effects

Several studies have shown that obese men tend to have a lower sperm count, fewer rapidly mobile sperm and fewer progressively motile sperm compared to normal-weight men.^[9] Researchers in France have said that poor children were up to three times more likely to be obese compared with wealthier children.^[8]

Action

In September 2005, France passed a law banning soda-and-snack-selling vending machines from public schools and misleading television and print food advertising.^[1] France also put in place 1.5% tax on the advertising budgets of food companies that did not encourage healthy eating.^[1]

French politicians considered obesity rate serious enough that they got local communities to govern their overweight and obesity levels.^[10] In 6 years since the program has started, it has lowered obesity rates up to 25% in some communities and has been considered a success.^[10] The cost of the program is €2 a day per child.^[10][4] Due to cultural issues brought in from immigration, there is no exact program format.^[4] The program has a menu named after it. A restaurant in Laventie offers "menu Epode". The menu has dishes that are considered healthy.^[4]

Forbes 2007 ranking

Source: Forbes.com^[3]

Ranking	Country	Percentage
123	South Korea	42.0
124	Swaziland	41.8
125	Kazakhstan	41.4
126	Moldova	41.1
127	Bhutan	40.9
128	France	40.9
129	Cameroon	39.9
130	Maldives	39.9
131	Algeria	39.8
132	North Korea	39.4
133	Kyrgyzstan	39.2

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Sciolino, Elaine (25 January 2006). "France Battles a Problem That Grows and Grows: Fat". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/international/europe/25obese.html. Retrieved 28 June 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Rosenthal, Elisabeth (4 May 2005). "Even the French are fighting obesity". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/world/europe/03iht-obese.html. Retrieved 28 June 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "World's Fattest Countries". Forbes. 8 February 2007. http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/worlds-fattest-countries-forbeslife-cx_ls_0208worldfat_4.html. Retrieved 28 June 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Lambert, Victoria (8 March 2008). "The French children learning to fight obesity". London: The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/dietandfitness/3353715/The-French-children-learning-to-fight-obesity.html. Retrieved 5 July 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Why So Few French Are Fat". Business Week. 3 July 2001. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jul2001/nf2001073_981.htm. Retrieved 3 July 2010. 
6. ^ "New obesity report says world is fatter, rounder, less productive". Deutsche Welle. 4 February 2011. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14818710,00.html. Retrieved 4 February 2011. 
7. ^ "Germany is getting fatter". The Local. 2 June 2010. http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100602-27589.html. Retrieved 28 June 2010. 
8. ^ ^{a b c} "Child obesity rates level off in France". New York Times. 15 May 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/world/europe/15iht-health.4.12927785.html. Retrieved 4 December 2010. 
9. ^ "Obesity linked to lower sperm count in young men". Reuters. 11 August 2010. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67A44F20100811. Retrieved 25 September 2010. 
10. ^ ^{a b c} Reid, Melanie (29 May 2009). "Small-town France the key to solving Scotland's obesity epidemic". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6381767.ece. Retrieved 28 June 2010.