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French paradox falling by the weigh-side

Did you know that McDonald's is more profitable in France than any other European country? With over 1 million French men and women eating there every day, it is hardly surprising. It also is not surprising that the "French paradox," the term applied to the idea that the French are famous for eating rich and fatty foods without gaining a significant amount of weight, is falling by the "weigh"-side.

According to the New York Times, the adult obesity rate in France is rising steadily at about 6% per year, but the children's obesity rate is nearly triple that rate. With the nation currently reporting 42% of its population as overweight or obese - compared to 65% of the US population - France may meet or exceed the US rates in as few as 10 years.

Now, France is looking to the US to stop their collective weight gain, enacting legislation to ban sodas and junk foods from public schools and even making attempts to force restaurants to display the nutritional information of their menu items. The New York Times reports that not only have such measures met with resistance from the food industry, but there is a lack of political drive to push such measure into effect. This is a reflection of the population's belief that obesity is not as prevalent a problem as is actually is.

Doctors and health professionals, like those in the United States, point fingers at modern, sedentary lifestyles and the lure of fast foods. Evidence indicates that the French tradition of long, slow meals is falling by the wayside as well, with studies revealing that, in the last 25 years, the average meal time in France has dropped from 88 minutes to 38 minutes, time which is often spent watching TV as well as eating. The French public is also quick to point the finger of blame at mothers, for failing to shop at local markets and cook for their families every night. Men in France, apparently, cannot cook.

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