Natalie Briggs

Professor Parkinson

KNH 420 Experience

8 December 2015

Nutrition and Obesity Across French & American Culture

I find an interest in the dietary needs and customs of other cultures. I have always had a

heart for other cultures and the complexity of what other cultures eat and how they live their

daily lives. Additionally, I have a minor in French, so I have an interest in researching about the

dietary differences and preferences amongst the French population versus the American

population. Moreover, growing up and through my French minor, I have read several books on

the diet of the French and the fact that they eat so many carbs, high-fat cheeses and drink so

much wine. Despite all of these “negative factors,” the French stay so healthy and lean. On the

other end, in America, we struggle with obesity, overeating and low levels of physical activity.

Not saying France does not struggle with obesity, but it is in lower rates and is less pronounced

as it is here. What are the differences and why do they matter? How is the French lifestyle so

different as to impact their rates of heart disease by leading Europe in cardiovascular health

(Candeau)?

Foremost, starting with the culture, the French tend to have more active lifestyles. They

walk to the grocery, school and their homes more than Americans. Especially in Paris where the

population is 2.2 million people, it is near impossible to have a car (UNdata). Therefore, they

walk to and from nearly every place. There is public transportation throughout the city, but they

do not all stop right at the doorstep of the workplace or the home. Additionally, their diet

consists of a multitude of baguettes with various cheeses and wines. This “French Paradox”

tends to puzzle dietitians since that is all carbs and sugars, correct? One theory is that they burn it

all off better than Americans do because of their higher levels of physical activity. Another

theory is that French food is more natural and less filled with preservatives, thus preventing a

large amount of weight gain. Lastly, this could be looked deeper into what comprises these

foods. For one, red wine specifically, is full of antioxidants like those found in whole, natural

fruits. The reason they have lower obesity and heart disease rates could very easily be a

combination of all of these.

While I was in France, I noticed how the portion sizes were significantly smaller than

they are here, however I never left a restaurant still hungry. It is true that an actual pasta serving

should be around half a cup, however most of the pastas that are sold in restaurants in America

are well over  two or three times that much! In France, they offer more courses during mealtime,

but the courses are smaller in proportion to the amount of food offered (Guiliano 68). The French

understand that it is not in the quantity, but rather the quality. They appreciate quality through

savouring every bite (Guiliano, 36). As what is typically believed, “simply pleasures never killed

anyone” (Ollivier, 108). Denying certain foods and drinks does not seem to be the answer, but it

is rather all in portion size and balancing food types throughout the day. For example, if a high-

fat lunch was eaten, focus on eating a dinner lower in fat and higher in fresh vegetables, for

example.

Speaking on portion sizes and balancing meals, in America, there is a myriad of fast food

stores that sell oversized portions of burgers, fries and drinks. This greatly affects our obesity

rates, hypertension and increased rates of chronic diseases. On top of that, Americans tend to

snack more often than French do (Guiliano, 33-4). French will often go to a cafe to get a glass of

wine and maybe some fresh bread with friends, and Americans tend to lean towards ice cream,

fancy Starbucks drink orders or high-calorie, salty snacks. These are generalizations, however

overall they can ring true and help deduct why French tend to have healthier lifestyles than

Americans. Life is all about a balance--love and enjoy food, but do not live to eat.

Going further in on the contrast between the two cultures, France is not a to-go food or

drink culture. It is nearly impossible to even get a to-go coffee in France. However, in America,

the convenience of fast food and now order-in Starbucks is used to make lives more fast-paced.

It is useful and wonderful to be able to go and pick food up in a split second, but is it what is best

for our bodies? People are almost taught to not enjoy food as much since it is taken with us

quickly in the car, back home on the couches or to the kid’s next soccer game. French schools

implement enjoying meal time in the fact that their lunch breaks are up to an hour long, whereas

in a typical American high school, students are given a half hour. That half hour is not all for

eating since it takes about 15 minutes to get through the lunch line and into a seat in the crowded

cafeteria. If children were given more time to eat their lunches, it is very likely they would learn

to enjoy and take time with their food rather than see it as something to scarf down before

continuing into a crazy school day schedule. French parents were asked if cafeteria foods taught

their children how to eat a balanced and varied meal and ⅔ of them answered yes. Furthermore,

up to 80% of them as well said their children do not snack between meals (Hartwick 531). This

is most definitely a positive sign if over half of parents believe their child is learning healthy

food habits early in school. This nutrition and wellness education is becoming more prevalent in

American schools through the National School Lunch Program and increased awareness of

wellness in this society. Snacking can also be a sneaky way of including many calories in the

diet, although I would not completely condone it. There is a multitude of snacks that can be

made healthy yet curb the appetite so people do not overeat at the next meal.

Another factor could be poverty level, although it is not validated--just a theory. Poverty

for a four-person household is defined as an income level of $24,250 (2015 Poverty Guidelines).

The poverty level in France in 2014 was amongst the lowest in Europe (Poverty in Europe),

whereas in America at that time, the level of poverty was reaching 15% (Poverty: 2014

Highlights). Poverty causes food insecurity in individuals and thus, could be a reason of stress in

families to cause an increase in obesity. The prevalence of poverty also correlates with more fast

food since it is the cheapest option for eating out. In France, as I mentioned before, fast food is

not even a way of life there. Those who are poor simply have to adjust their grocery and eating

out budget. Already in Europe, fresh foods are eaten much more often than in America. Many of

the foods in America are mass-produced and grown as a genetically-modified food (GMO’s),

whereas the French belief is steadfast that “fresh food comes from the soil, not from a factory”

(Ollivier 116). This should hold true in American culture as dietitians fight for more fresh food

in our diet. Factories are necessary for mass production and for processed foods, however that is

not what is best as the primary consumption for the body.

Programs for preventing obesity have been implemented in various places all over the

world since it has become a national problem. France has a step ahead in that they were “one of

the first countries in the world to implement national actions to reduce childhood obesity”

(Tounian 118). France created the French National Nutrition and Health Programme for the

country. America, as a much larger entity, has created multiple programs, from the National

School Lunch Program to the Let’s Move! program established by Michelle Obama. America

also lives in a more obesogenic culture, which creates more of a struggle to live a healthy

lifestyle. Acts by programs, dietitians and Michelle Obama’s health movement have all tried to

tear down the barriers that prevent implementing healthy lifestyle habits. Ultimately, the French

could somehow have a lower predisposition to obesity in their genetics (Tounian 118). This

theory is still being researched and nutrigenomics is a topic that is growing in popularity. After

all, about 70% of human health is determined through environmental choices (Brown 457);

therefore, potentially throughout time, these environmental effects could have affected the genes

and thus brought about an edge up in society healthwise.

For the future of America, I am not saying we should completely switch our ways or that

France is so much better in lifestyle choices. However, the French have implemented several

habits that Americans could consider in order to follow a more active and fresh, clean eating

lifestyle. This could easily lead to lower rates in cardiovascular diseases and obesity. As a future

dietitian, I can influence the path America is taking by following in my lifestyle and advocating

fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and staying active. I can educate my clients on the best

ways to deal with obesity based off of some of this cultural knowledge and share what I know

with the people close to me. One person at a time, our population can switch from heading down

an obese path to one of a healthy and active culture.

Bibliography

Brown, J. (2014). Nutrition and Older Adults. In Nutrition Through the Life Cycle (5th ed., p.

457). Stamford, Connecticut: Cengage Learning.

Candau, M. (2015). France leads Europe in cardiovascular health. Retrieved December 8, 2015,

from http://www.euractiv.com/sections/health-consumers/france-leads-europe-

cardiovascular-health-312265

Guiliano, M. (2005). French Women Don't Get Fat. New York: Random House.

Hartwick, C., Queval, I., Sue, R., & Power, E. (n.d.). Food culture and nutrition education in

France. The implications of a national health campaign against obesity. Retrieved

December 9, 2015, from http://journals.ohiolink.edu/ejc/pdf.cgi/Hartwick_C.A.pdf?

issn=01956663&issue=v56i0002&article=531_fcaneianhcao

Ollivier, D. (2003). La Cuisine. In Entre Nous. New York, New York: St. Martin's Press.

Poverty: 2014 Highlights. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2015, from

https://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/about/overview/

2015 Poverty Guidelines. (2015, September 3). Retrieved December 9, 2015, from

https://aspe.hhs.gov/2015-poverty-guidelines

Poverty in Europe: The Current Situation. (2012, January 26). Retrieved December 9, 2015, from

http://www.inequalitywatch.eu/spip.php?article99&lang=en

Tounian, P. (2015). Why are there fewer obese children in France than in other Western

European countries? ActaPaediatrica, 104(2), 118-120. doi:10.1111

UNdata A World of Information. (2015). Retrieved December 8, 2015, from http://data.un.org/