1. 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”

2. 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,

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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=v56i00
02&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

7. 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/