Obesity in France: Difference between revisions
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{{Disputed|date=May 2018 |
{{Disputed|date=May 2018}} |
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{{Expand French|Obésité en France|date=November 2018}} |
{{Expand French|Obésité en France|date=November 2018}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} |
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{{short description|Overview of obesity in France}} |
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'''[[Obesity]] in [[France]]''' is a growing health issue. Obesity in children is growing at a faster rate than obesity in adults. |
'''[[Obesity]] in [[France]]''' is a growing health issue. Obesity in children is growing at a faster rate than obesity in adults. |
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Based on [[List of countries by Body Mass Index (BMI)#WHO Data on Prevalence of Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) (2014)|World Health Organization (WHO) data published in 2014]], 23.9% of French adults (age 18+) were clinically obese with a [[body mass index]] (BMI) of 30 or greater. The data showed the incidence of obesity in French women in 2014 was 24.0% and among French men 23.8%. Overall adult obesity rates in France were significantly ahead of the Netherlands at 19.8%, Germany at 20.1% and Italy at 21.0%, but behind the United Kingdom and the United States at 28.1% and |
Based on [[List of countries by Body Mass Index (BMI)#WHO Data on Prevalence of Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) (2014)|World Health Organization (WHO) data published in 2014]], 23.9% of French adults (age 18+) were clinically obese with a [[body mass index]] (BMI) of 30 or greater. The data showed the incidence of obesity in French women in 2014 was 24.0% and among French men 23.8%. Overall adult obesity rates in France were significantly ahead of the Netherlands at 19.8%, Germany at 20.1% and Italy at 21.0%, but behind the United Kingdom and the United States at 28.1% and 41.9% respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title=Prevalence of obesity, ages 18+, 2010-2014|url=http://gamapserver.who.int/gho/interactive_charts/ncd/risk_factors/obesity/atlas.html|publisher=World Health Organization|accessdate=25 February 2016}}</ref> |
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Based on 2014 WHO data, France was ranked as the 122nd fattest [[List of countries by Body Mass Index (BMI)|country in terms of mean BMI]] for adults of both sexes, with a mean BMI score of 25.3.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mean Body Mass Index trends (kg/m2), ages 18+, 2010-2014|url=http://gamapserver.who.int/gho/interactive_charts/ncd/risk_factors/bmi/atlas.html|publisher=World Health Organization|accessdate=25 February 2016}}</ref> |
Based on 2014 WHO data, France was ranked as the 122nd fattest [[List of countries by Body Mass Index (BMI)|country in terms of mean BMI]] for adults of both sexes, with a mean BMI score of 25.3.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mean Body Mass Index trends (kg/m2), ages 18+, 2010-2014|url=http://gamapserver.who.int/gho/interactive_charts/ncd/risk_factors/bmi/atlas.html|publisher=World Health Organization|accessdate=25 February 2016}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Obesity levels in France doubled between 1995 and 2004 (to 11.3% of the population).<ref name="NYT2">{{cite news|title=Even the French are fighting obesity|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/world/europe/03iht-obese.html|work=The New York Times|date=4 May 2005|accessdate=28 June 2010 | first=Elisabeth | last=Rosenthal}}</ref> In 2001 France was reported to have had the lowest [[obesity]] rate in Europe.<ref name="BWO1"/> |
Obesity levels in France doubled between 1995 and 2004 (to 11.3% of the population).<ref name="NYT2">{{cite news|title=Even the French are fighting obesity|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/world/europe/03iht-obese.html|work=The New York Times|date=4 May 2005|accessdate=28 June 2010 | first=Elisabeth | last=Rosenthal}}</ref> In 2001 France was reported to have had the lowest [[obesity]] rate in Europe.<ref name="BWO1"/> |
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[[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.<ref name="NYT1"/> Between 1992 and 2000, in the region, obesity in girls doubled while the total for boys grew by 195%.<ref name="Telegraph1">{{cite news|title=The French children learning to fight obesity|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ |
[[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.<ref name="NYT1"/> Between 1992 and 2000, in the region, obesity in girls doubled while the total for boys grew by 195%.<ref name="Telegraph1">{{cite news|title=The French children learning to fight obesity|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/diet/3353715/The-French-children-learning-to-fight-obesity.html|work=The Telegraph|date=8 March 2008|accessdate=20 March 2021 | location=London | first=Victoria | last=Lambert}}</ref> |
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===Recent history=== |
===Recent history=== |
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Historically, France has been known for its slender people and [[longevity]]. This has led to their role as the "[[nutrition]]al [[role model]] for Europe".<ref name="Telegraph1"/> |
Historically, France has been known for its slender people and [[longevity]]. This has led to their role as the "[[nutrition]]al [[role model]] for Europe".<ref name="Telegraph1"/> |
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[[Mireille Guiliano]] wrote the book ''French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure'' which claims French women eating in the traditional way are less inclined to be [[Obesity|obese]] than their American counterparts. This book is not based on science and leaves much out about French culture and government that contributes to those who fit this stereotype. Of course, there are no studies to prove this. |
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==Causes== |
==Causes== |
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Blame has been put on [[fast food]], [[ |
Blame has been put on [[fast food]], [[ultra-processed food]], the widespread presences of unhealthy snacks, [[sedentary lifestyle]] and the loss of "common food culture".<ref name="NYT2"/><ref name="NYT1"/> The French tradition of not opening the refrigerator between meals for a child isn't as prevalent as it once was.<ref name="NYT1"/> Fat content in the French diet has increased steadily to the point where it is predicted that obesity-related diseases will start to increase.<ref name="BWO1">{{cite news|title=Why So Few French Are Fat|url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jul2001/nf2001073_981.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010812044220/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jul2001/nf2001073_981.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 August 2001|work=Business Week |date=3 July 2001|accessdate=3 July 2010}}</ref> |
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The French connect food to pleasure and they enjoy eating, considering meals a celebration of their cuisine.<ref name="Saguy, Abigail 2010">Saguy, Abigail, Gruys, Kjerstin, and Gong, Shanna. "Social Problem Construction and National Context: News Reporting on "Overweight" and "Obesity" in the United States and France". Social Problems 57.4 (2010): 586–610. Web</ref> |
The French connect food to pleasure and they enjoy eating, considering meals a celebration of their cuisine.<ref name="Saguy, Abigail 2010">Saguy, Abigail, Gruys, Kjerstin, and Gong, Shanna. "Social Problem Construction and National Context: News Reporting on "Overweight" and "Obesity" in the United States and France". Social Problems 57.4 (2010): 586–610. Web</ref> |
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== Social correlations == |
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Several studies have shown that obese men tend to have a lower [[Semen analysis|sperm count]], fewer rapidly mobile [[sperm]] and fewer progressively motile sperm compared to normal-weight men.<ref name="ReutersO1">{{cite news|title=Obesity linked to lower sperm count in young men|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67A44F20100811|publisher=Reuters|date=11 August 2010|accessdate=25 September 2010}}</ref> |
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== Social determinants == |
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Obesity affects disproportionately low income individuals and is one marker of social inequality.<ref name="Saguy, Abigail 2010"/> |
Obesity affects disproportionately low income individuals and is one marker of social inequality.<ref name="Saguy, Abigail 2010"/> |
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==Action== |
==Action== |
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In September 2005, France passed a law banning [[Vending machine|soda-and-snack-selling vending machines]] from [[State school|public schools]] and misleading television and [[Advertising#Press advertising|print]] food advertising.<ref name="NYT1"/> France also put in place 1.5% tax on the advertising budgets of food companies that did not encourage healthy eating.<ref name="NYT1"/> |
In September 2005, France passed a law banning [[Vending machine|soda-and-snack-selling vending machines]] from [[State school|public schools]] and misleading television and [[Advertising#Press advertising|print]] food advertising.<ref name="NYT1"/> France also put in place 1.5% tax on the advertising budgets of food companies that did not encourage healthy eating.<ref name="NYT1"/> |
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In 2012, the country implemented a soda tax, with rates ranging from 3.34€ to 29.09€ per 100mL of drinks, depending on the amount of added sugar, which varied from 10g/L to 150g/L respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taxation of beverages |url=https://entreprendre.service-public.fr/vosdroits/F32101?lang=en |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=entreprendre.service-public.fr |language=Fr}}</ref> And drinks with sweetener are sold at the minimal price of 3,34 € per hectoliter. The tax applies only to beverages with any quantity of added sugar and does not include naturally sweetened drinks such as fruit juices. When the product contains both sweetener and added sugar, the product is subject to two taxes. |
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| ⚫ | French politicians have considered [[obesity]] rate serious enough that they got local communities to govern their overweight and obesity levels<ref name="Times1">{{cite news|title=Small-town France the key to solving Scotland's obesity epidemic|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6381767.ece|work=The Times |location=London |date=29 May 2009|accessdate=28 June 2010 | first=Melanie | last=Reid}}</ref> through a program called Epode (acronym for "Ensemble, prévenons l'obésité des enfants", "Together let's prevent obesity in children"). Six years after the program has started, it has been considered a success with obesity rates lowered up to 25% in some communities.<ref name="Times1"/> The cost of the program is €2 a day per child.<ref name="Telegraph1"/><ref name="Times1"/> Due to cultural issues brought in from immigration, there is no exact program format;<ref name="Telegraph1"/> though, a town implementing the program must offer a "menu Epode", which comprises dishes considered healthy.<ref name="Telegraph1"/> |
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| ⚫ | French politicians have considered the [[obesity]] rate serious enough that they got local communities to govern their overweight and obesity levels<ref name="Times1">{{cite news|title=Small-town France the key to solving Scotland's obesity epidemic|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6381767.ece|work=The Times |location=London |date=29 May 2009|accessdate=28 June 2010 | first=Melanie | last=Reid}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> through a program called Epode (acronym for "Ensemble, prévenons l'obésité des enfants", "Together let's prevent obesity in children"). Six years after the program has started, it has been considered a success with obesity rates lowered up to 25% in some communities.<ref name="Times1"/> The cost of the program is €2 a day per child.<ref name="Telegraph1"/><ref name="Times1"/> Due to cultural issues brought in from immigration, there is no exact program format;<ref name="Telegraph1"/> though, a town implementing the program must offer a "menu Epode", which comprises dishes considered healthy.<ref name="Telegraph1"/> |
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==Statistics== |
==Statistics== |
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According to the CIA's ''World Factbook'', France's prevalence rate for adult obesity was 21.60% in 2016, placing the country at the 87th position worldwide. Among European countries, rates ranged from 19.50% (Switzerland) to 27.80% (United Kingdom).<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2228rank.html</ref> |
According to the CIA's ''World Factbook'', France's prevalence rate for adult obesity was 21.60% in 2016, placing the country at the 87th position worldwide. Among European countries, rates ranged from 19.50% (Switzerland) to 27.80% (United Kingdom).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2228rank.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210030057/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2228rank.html |archive-date=10 December 2011 |title=CIA - The World Factbook}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Latest revision as of 02:05, 27 September 2024
 | This article's factual accuracy is disputed. (May 2018) |
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (November 2018) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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Obesity in France is a growing health issue. Obesity in children is growing at a faster rate than obesity in adults.
Based on World Health Organization (WHO) data published in 2014, 23.9% of French adults (age 18+) were clinically obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. The data showed the incidence of obesity in French women in 2014 was 24.0% and among French men 23.8%. Overall adult obesity rates in France were significantly ahead of the Netherlands at 19.8%, Germany at 20.1% and Italy at 21.0%, but behind the United Kingdom and the United States at 28.1% and 41.9% respectively.[1]
Based on 2014 WHO data, France was ranked as the 122nd fattest country in terms of mean BMI for adults of both sexes, with a mean BMI score of 25.3.[2]
History
[edit]Obesity levels in France doubled between 1995 and 2004 (to 11.3% of the population).[3] In 2001 France was reported to have had the lowest obesity rate in Europe.[4]
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.[5] Between 1992 and 2000, in the region, obesity in girls doubled while the total for boys grew by 195%.[6]
Recent history
[edit]Obesity in France has been increasingly cited as a major health issue in recent years. It is 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.[5]
France became the first European Union country to state that childhood obesity rates have started to level off while drastic increase in childhood obesity rates continue in most European countries. France is approximately ranked in the middle European childhood obesity rates rankings.[7] Researchers have said this is caused from "government policies, a growing awareness of the dangers of obesity and the fact that children are eating less".[7]
McDonald's is more profitable in France than anywhere else in Europe. Sales have increased 42% over the past five years.[5] Some 1.2 million French, or 2 percent of the population, eat there every day.[5]
Stereotype
[edit]Historically, France has been known for its slender people and longevity. This has led to their role as the "nutritional role model for Europe".[6]
Causes
[edit]Blame has been put on fast food, ultra-processed food, the widespread presences of unhealthy snacks, sedentary lifestyle and the loss of "common food culture".[3][5] The French tradition of not opening the refrigerator between meals for a child isn't as prevalent as it once was.[5] Fat content in the French diet has increased steadily to the point where it is predicted that obesity-related diseases will start to increase.[4]
The French connect food to pleasure and they enjoy eating, considering meals a celebration of their cuisine.[8]
Social correlations
[edit]Obesity affects disproportionately low income individuals and is one marker of social inequality.[8] A study conducted by French researchers has shown that poor children are up to three times more likely to be obese compared to children growing up in more affluent families.[7]
Action
[edit]In September 2005, France passed a law banning soda-and-snack-selling vending machines from public schools and misleading television and print food advertising.[5] France also put in place 1.5% tax on the advertising budgets of food companies that did not encourage healthy eating.[5]
In 2012, the country implemented a soda tax, with rates ranging from 3.34€ to 29.09€ per 100mL of drinks, depending on the amount of added sugar, which varied from 10g/L to 150g/L respectively.[9] And drinks with sweetener are sold at the minimal price of 3,34 € per hectoliter. The tax applies only to beverages with any quantity of added sugar and does not include naturally sweetened drinks such as fruit juices. When the product contains both sweetener and added sugar, the product is subject to two taxes.
French politicians have considered the obesity rate serious enough that they got local communities to govern their overweight and obesity levels[10] through a program called Epode (acronym for "Ensemble, prévenons l'obésité des enfants", "Together let's prevent obesity in children"). Six years after the program has started, it has been considered a success with obesity rates lowered up to 25% in some communities.[10] The cost of the program is €2 a day per child.[6][10] Due to cultural issues brought in from immigration, there is no exact program format;[6] though, a town implementing the program must offer a "menu Epode", which comprises dishes considered healthy.[6]
Statistics
[edit]According to the CIA's World Factbook, France's prevalence rate for adult obesity was 21.60% in 2016, placing the country at the 87th position worldwide. Among European countries, rates ranged from 19.50% (Switzerland) to 27.80% (United Kingdom).[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Prevalence of obesity, ages 18+, 2010-2014". World Health Organization. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ "Mean Body Mass Index trends (kg/m2), ages 18+, 2010-2014". World Health Organization. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ a b Rosenthal, Elisabeth (4 May 2005). "Even the French are fighting obesity". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Why So Few French Are Fat". Business Week. 3 July 2001. Archived from the original on 12 August 2001. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Sciolino, Elaine (25 January 2006). "France Battles a Problem That Grows and Grows: Fat". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Lambert, Victoria (8 March 2008). "The French children learning to fight obesity". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "Child obesity rates level off in France". The New York Times. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^ a b Saguy, Abigail, Gruys, Kjerstin, and Gong, Shanna. "Social Problem Construction and National Context: News Reporting on "Overweight" and "Obesity" in the United States and France". Social Problems 57.4 (2010): 586–610. Web
- ^ "Taxation of beverages". entreprendre.service-public.fr (in French). Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Reid, Melanie (29 May 2009). "Small-town France the key to solving Scotland's obesity epidemic". The Times. London. Retrieved 28 June 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "CIA - The World Factbook". Archived from the original on 10 December 2011.
