The Real Reason French Women Are Thinner Than American Women

The “French Paradox” is the phenomenon that French people live on a high-fat diet but collectively have shockingly low rates of heart disease and obesity relative to other countries. In fact, France has the lowest rate of heart disease in Europe, yet the highest saturated fat consumption. 

When you picture a French woman, you likely imagine a slender, bronzed beauty queen lounging underneath the Eiffel Tower, sipping a glass of Sancerre and enjoying a baguette. Or maybe you imagine a thin brunette strutting down the Champs-Élysées, toy poodle and designer bag in hand. Perhaps you envision a woman a lot like the following…

So how can French women remain perpetually thin without restricting their calories and following some regimented workout plan? We American women have a lot to learn from our French counterparts.

I recently lived this perplexing conundrum while vacationing in France this summer. In general, I eat far smaller, healthier meal portions than the average American, but on my European vacation, I ate anything and everything I wanted. From croissants and charcuterie to wine and steak frites, I truly let myself embrace the magnificence that is French dining.

And while I braced for impact upon stepping on the scale, peering at the number behind half closed eyelids, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I did not gain a single pound. So, how was this possible? It made no sense that eating bread, pastries, and red meat for 10 days – things I rarely eat at home – could truly lead to no weight gain. That’s when I started to research.

French Women Are Masters of Portion Control

If you’re a consumer of health and wellness media, you’re probably sick of hearing about the power of portion control and how “everything is okay in moderation.” But I’m here to tell you that the French Paradox is the quintessential example of how portion control is everything when it comes to keeping weight off.

Compared to American dining, French eateries serve significantly smaller portion sizes, making the locals masters of portion control. This is particularly evident in their desserts – try to recall a time you’ve seen a mega ice cream sundae or an extra large slice of chocolate cake on a French dessert menu. (You can’t.) Their desserts tend to be one to two macaroons or a small serving of beignets. American culture is obsessed with the notion that bigger is better, and when it comes to portion sizing, this is a dangerous lie. 

They Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

Not only do the French practice portion control with the utmost care, but they prioritize the quality of their food over the quantity. The French have figured out that eating foods high in nutrients like lean protein, vitamins, and fiber will keep you more satiated than eating a larger amount of less nutrient-dense foods. French women tend to shop at local farmers' markets and cook their own meals because eating is viewed as a form of self-care. Their culture is one that places great importance on what goes in their bodies because food directly impacts the way that they feel. For this reason, high-quality food is not a desire, it’s a need. 

French Women Eat Less Sugar

You may not believe me, but French women on average tend to eat less sugar than Americans. Before you start questioning how that can be possible with all the croissants and baguettes that our French counterparts consume, data shows that the average French person eats about 68 grams of sugar daily, while the average American consumes 126 grams.

In America, anyone who has been on a diet will tell you that fat is the biggest enemy on a nutrition label. So as a result, we have a bunch of “fat-free” options on our grocery store shelves, and many Americans opt for fat-free butter, fat-free yogurt, fat-free milk, etc. when shopping. But what’s replacing the fat content in these foods is really worse – it’s sugar. According to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, sugar is far worse for heart health than fat. In reality, we need fat in our foods in order for our bodies to absorb nutrients efficiently. So if you’re looking to shed pounds, consider ditching fat-free dairy products and instead focus on cutting sugar consumption.

French Women Shop Local

Data shows that 75% of French consumers consider local production extremely important in their purchasing decisions, and around half of the population shops at local farmers' markets regularly. While a similar percentage of Americans may claim to consider local production important, a much smaller percentage of about 12% actually shops at farmers' markets regularly. The majority of American women get their food from supermarket chains like Costco, Kroger, or Publix, which are known to carry mass-produced foods instead of selling locally sourced products.

Additionally, shopping locally results in a much healthier selection of groceries than shopping at a supermarket simply because there are no junk food aisles at a farmers' market.

They Avoid Takeout Like the Plague

Along with shopping locally, French women also eat in their homes for the majority of their meals. This is largely because, in French culture, meals are seen as a sacred time to spend refueling and nurturing the body, typically with loved ones. In fact, French lunches typically last about an hour and a half on average, even during the work week.

Takeout is simply not a cultural norm in France, and since cooking allows you to control what you are putting into a meal, as a result, the French tend to eat healthier. Meanwhile, in the U.S., two-thirds of the population consumes fast food at least once a week. America’s prioritization of convenience and efficiency when it comes to food is a large reason why heart disease and obesity are so out of control. 

French Food Is Less Processed

French food is less processed, contains fewer additives, preservatives, and hormones, and is overall much fresher than American food. In addition to the food being less processed in nature, French women rarely lay a hand on processed food. If they’re going to eat unhealthily, they’d rather opt for the freshly baked croissant than a box of Oreos.

French Culture Knows No Food Guilt

In French culture, eating is only associated with positive emotions like love, care, and pleasure. Unlike in America, where mealtimes are often squeezed into busy days with overpacked to-do lists, in France, mealtimes are cherished and leisurely. French women view eating as a form of self-care and, because they allow themselves to soak in the enjoyment of food each and every day, there is no guilt associated with eating. But in the U.S., food is often used as a scapegoat for stress and other negative emotions and therefore has led to overeating habits.

French Cities Welcome Walking

Unlike American cities, European cities are built for walking. In fact, nine of the world’s most walkable cities are located in Europe. Data shows that around 65% of French people walk briskly seven days a week, whereas only about 50% of Americans walk briskly five days a week. And while physical activity is not considered to be the single most effective way to lose weight – because it’s thought that exercise and diet together achieve weight loss – any form of physical activity does burn calories.

Healthy Habits Are Learned Early

In general, there are no kid’s menus in France, so children develop a refined and mature palette at a young age. Because there are no unhealthier options like chicken fingers or mac ‘n cheese, French girls learn to eat salads, fish, red meat, and vegetables from childhood, leading them to establish healthy habits very early. However, in America, we allow children to eat off a kid’s menu and opt for unhealthy options until they’re usually about 12 years old. And unfortunately, by this time, it’s too late to shape them into practicing healthier habits.

They Don’t Diet, They Just Balance

It’s no secret that, culturally speaking, French women care deeply about aesthetics and beauty. So, it would be remiss to claim that French women effortlessly remain thin and healthy their whole lives. Of course, they can at times fill up on too many croissants or finish a bottle of wine without thinking much about it, just like an American woman can. But, the difference is that French women have deeply rooted healthy habits and can easily balance out their unhealthy eating the next day. American women tend to lack that balancing superpower.

While French women understand it, they reject the notion of dieting because they do not believe in restricting themselves. Restriction merely leads to overindulgence at some point and food should never be consumed at such extremes. This balanced mindset helps French women maintain a holistic and positive relationship with food.

Closing Thoughts

If you take away anything from this article, let it be the following: Do not underestimate the power of portion control and balance. Everything is okay in moderation, so work on unlearning food guilt and shameful eating and approach your meals with gratitude and an open heart. Try to visit local markets and cook at home as much as possible – when you do so, you are in control of what you include on your plate, right down to the amount of oil you use in a pan and the amount of salt on your food. When shopping, fill your basket with fresh fruits and vegetables as opposed to processed packaged food.

Instead of scrutinizing nutrition labels for fat and sugar contents, try to opt for anything non-processed. Finally, rather than fall victim to the next diet fad where you have to restrict your caloric intake to unattainable levels just to drop weight quickly, focus on shifting your mindset toward increasing food quality rather than decreasing its quantity on your plate. 

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