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A Weighty Issue

© Sara Dellinger

An English friend once said to me that compared to Paris, people in other major cities all look fat. While this may seem a little overstated, there is a rather large grain of truth in this phrase.

I remember being shocked at first by the number of "anorexics" walking the streets, hardly able to hold themselves up on their toothpick legs, their little arms dangling from birdlike shoulders. I was sure that the only difference between teenage anorexic girls in Paris and those in the US was that American parents were more apt to seek psychological help for their kids.

Today I've moderated my view a bit and believe that in part, what is considered "too thin" or "overweight" is cultural. With the exception of those who are truly fat or undernourished to the point where their health is affected. What we consider as an ideal is learned. American girls will typically have a wholesome round-faced look while French girls will always strive to appear catlike. It's not just in body type or weight, but also in how one walks or stands. The French, from what I've seen, have better posture, which as we know makes the body appear less rounded. We all have habits after all.

And habits are part of what keep most French, and Parisians in particular, thin. In the city, the daily routine is more active: we rely less on cars, we are always running to catch the next train, subway or bus. Most people walk to the grocery store and their are plenty of stairs to climb. So how about a little pain au chocolat in the afternoon. While bakery treats are tempting and marvelously displayed, most French don't indulge every day. From my experience, in France quality beats quantity hands down for most people. And when quality is readily displayed on every little street, tourists will eat a large quantity of it.

"Moderation in all things", my Grandmother used to say. Apparently, the French take that to heart. Meal times are respected, with ample lunch hours compared to the American population that often eats on the run, in the car, at work, in front of the television and at all hours of the day.

Perhaps one of the most important things to consider in the equation is that the French feel that one must always look "presentable". This is taken very seriously. The motto seems to be, "don't go out if you don't look good". Or rather, don't go out if you don't look perfect. Physical appearance is so important that the typical French housewife doesn't dare set foot in the local grocery store without a full face of makeup and styled hair. No baggy sweats, faded jeans, or oversized t-shirts means nowhere to hide it if you've got a few extra pounds or kilos. The standard French dress code does not allow for it. So to fit in, the fat is better left behind than on your behind.