French Paradox - France

April 2005
Despite having one of the richest diets on the planet, the French have one of the lowest rates of obesity and heart disease anywhere. They, quite literally, eat to their hearts' content.

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[monkeyman1140]

There's no paradox, Americans and the British simply eat too large a quantity of food.

[Rezo54]

We also have a great health care system, You give a little bit of money each month which is taken on your salary and in exchange you can go to the dentist, the doctor, at the hospital for free. People who have money pay for the ones who can't afford that. That is for sure why we live longer!

And for the obesity, I'll use an example: In America, your smallest Mc Donald menu is the biggest here AND it's expensive. Eating fast food isn't as cheap has in america

[DragonFly122]

Hell, butter is better for you than margarine.

[DragonFly122]

Paula Deen might want to take notes.

[MaxC17]

maybe it's because even though we love butter and flour... we don't eat a lot of processed food which has a lot of ingredients that I for one cannot pronounce. Plus the amaount they eat is... kinda gross... i love food and the idea of dieting for me isn't an option. But I don't get bags of chips and lots of fast food or processed food. I make most of my meals with raw ingredients... i dunno I think that's the mean difference from me to most of my American friends...

[passigali]

on French TV, whenever there is a commercial for food, there's an advertisement reminding us not to eat between meals, to exercise and to eat fruits and veggies. The great problem in America is the food industry lobbies, if McDonald's were sponsoring Educational program in schools in France, there would be a riot !!!

[passigali]

We French prefer quality over quantity. Portions in America are huge. If the fast food restaurants are so cheap is because they use low quality products full of sugar, fat and salt to make more profit, and it's just the same with all processed food. The only way to fight obesity is to cook from scratch, sitting at the table for meal and enjoy the momment with your family, no snacking, no soft drinks (not even juices which are full of sugar).

[ShaxAMV]

Nothing wrong with eating fat guys, keep everything in moderation and enjoy the fruits of life. Don't complicate things, stay away from things that are highly processed and sugar enriched. But fat is completely fine.

[ShaxAMV]

@Verrie77 Canadians aren't that fat compared to the rest because they speak French there, LOL.

[Yottabee]

I am a normal-weight, 115-lb. American woman.

Having said that, when I come back, I want to be born in France.

I want that food!

I want that wine!

'Nuff said :)

[Verrie77]

LoL it seems all countries that talk english are fat :)..some more than others.

USA, UK, AUSTRALIA, CANADA

[Tsoma1]

@Sofrie37 they mean snacking as in don't snack on potato chips and chocolate bars, you can snack on fruits and veggies though