French Fat

By Candy

French women are special; apparently, they don’t get fat. And, according to Mirielle Guiliano (author of French Women Don’t Get Fat), those slender femmes have quite a different perception of food from their Americans counterparts – one that keeps them slim. She tells us that the French have elaborate food rituals, where they eat better-quality food, savor it more consciously and “fool themselves” into being satisfied with less (unlike the gluttonous folk).

The truth is her “non-diet” advice is right on. Each meal should be a savory experience instead of a 20-minute rush to calm a starving tummy. No deprivation, no guilt, just enjoyment: These are things that Americans are already beginning to adopt as part of their health regimes.

Yet, you shouldn’t begin worshiping the ladies of France just yet: Only 20 percent of the French population still eats this way. Due to a shift in eating habits, the culture of traditional meals is being replaced by snacks, fast food and prepared meals. Sounds like Ms. Guiliano should be coaching her own people, no?

Now France is seen to be suffering from an obesity crisis. Oh, la la! More and more of its youth are packing on the pounds. Although the level of fatness as a percentage of body weight is at 11.3, it is far below ours (22 percent). Yet, the obese population is rising fast and the French government is tr&#8217s distraught. Food labeling, nutritional education and in-school exercise programs have been implemented in an attempt to reverse the upsurge in weight gain.

I guess the Frenchie females can’t call us fatties anymore. They do get fat.