Obesity in France has been increasingly cited as a major health issue in recent years. It's 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. There is a myth about French people not getting overweight or obese. The myth is strong that some scientists think that there is a connection between obesity and genetics.France is ranked as the 128th fattest country. The issue has caused a shock in France.
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".
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." French tradition of not opening the refrigerator between meals for a child isn't frowned upon as it once was. Fat content in the French diet has increased steadily to the point where it is predicted that obesity-related diseases will start to increase.
McDonald's is more profitable in France than anywhere else in Europe. Sales have increased 42% over the past five years. Some 1.2 million French, or 2 percent of the population, eat there every day.
Effects
Several studies have showen that obese men tend to have a lower sperm count, fewer rapidly mobile sperm and fewer progressively motile sperm compared to normal-weight men.
Action
Introduction of law and taxes
In September 2005, France passed a law banning soda-and-snack-selling vending machines from public schools and misleading television and print food advertising. France also put in place 1.5% tax on the advertising budgets of food companies that did not encourage healthy eating.
Epode — Ensemble, Prévenons l’Obésité des Enfants
French politicians considered obesity rate serious enough that they got local communities to govern their overweight and obesity levels. 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. The cost of the program is €2 a day per child.Due to cultural issues brought in from immigration, there is no exact program format. The program has a menu named after it. A restaurant in Laventie offers "menu Epode". The menu has dishes that are considered healthy.
Statistics
Within France
Obesity levels in France have doubled between 1995 and 2004. However, France has the lowest obesity rate in Europe.
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. Between 1992 and 2000, in the region obesity in girls double while the total for boys grew by 195%.
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%. At that rate, people in France will be considered as fat or obese as Americans by the year 2020.
France compared to other European countries
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. 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.
France's International ranking
Source: Forbes.com
(source:wikipedia)
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