French portions are significantly smaller than American servings, often about 25% smaller, focusing on smaller plates and richer, higher-quality foods, which leads to satisfaction with less food by encouraging slower eating and better appreciation of flavors. Expect smaller main courses, snacks, and desserts, with smaller supermarket items too, contributing to their slimmer physique despite richer ingredients.
The French don't go in for giant-sized portions with plates so large they barely fit on the table. Portion sizes in France are noticeably smaller than in the UK, the US, or Australia. You don't come away from a meal so stuffed you need to loosen the button on your pants.
The simple answer is that the most prevalent reasons for population obesity is not so much the nature of the food as it is eating habits and general lifestyle traits. The French typically do not eat between meals, rarely drink sugary drinks (such as soda, etc), and walk a fair amount. Voilà!
A 2003 article in the journal Psychological Science describes how portions in French cookbooks, as well as those in restaurants and grocery stores, are 25 percent smaller than those in American ones. With smaller portion sizes, the French consume more reasonable amounts of food in one sitting.
France: Indulgence Without Overeating
Meals are structured, social, and often smaller than their American counterparts. Portions in France are not only physically smaller, but they're also consumed more slowly, often over multiple courses. Snacking is less common, and eating on the go is rare.
🇻🇳 Believe it or not, Vietnam is the “thinnest” country in the world! ✨ According to a recent study by WorldAtlas, Vietnam boasts the lowest obesity rate globally, with just 2.1% of its population classified as obese.
The researchers weighed portions at 11 comparable pairs of restaurants in Paris and Philadelphia, including fast-food outlets, pizzerias, ice cream parlors, and even ethnic restaurants like Chinese and Indian. They found the mean portion size in restaurants in Paris was 277 grams, compared to 346 grams in Philadelphia.
The French paradox is an apparently paradoxical epidemiological observation that French people have a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), while having a diet relatively rich in saturated fats, in apparent contradiction to the widely held belief that the high consumption of such fats is a risk ...
1/ Okinawan diet – Japan
So much so that Japan has the lowest obesity rates and third longest life expectancy of any developed country. The Okinawan diet is centred around fish, seafood, tofu, and other nutrient-rich ingredients. It's also extremely low in processed foods.
The 3-3-3 rule for weight loss is a simple, habit-based method focusing on three key areas: 3 balanced meals a day, 3 bottles (or ~1.5L) of water by 3 PM, and 3 hours of physical activity per week, aiming for consistency over complex diets. It simplifies fat loss by establishing rhythm through consistent eating, adequate hydration to support metabolism, and regular movement, promoting sustainable health without intense calorie counting or restrictive rules, says Five Diamond Fitness and Wellness, Joon Medical Wellness & Aesthetics, and EatingWell.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer are the leading causes of death, morbidity, and disability in France, as in much of the EU. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimates there were about 715 000 new CVD cases annually and 11.5 million people living with a CVD in 2021 (Figure 5).
The country with the highest adult obesity rate is typically one of the Pacific Island nations, with Nauru often cited as number one, followed closely by American Samoa, Tokelau, and the Cook Islands, with rates exceeding 69% of the adult population. These island nations in Oceania consistently rank highest due to complex factors like diet changes and genetic predispositions.
The "5 to 7 rule" in France, or le cinq à sept, traditionally refers to a secret, after-work rendezvous (5 PM to 7 PM) with a lover for an illicit sexual encounter before returning home to family, but it's also used more broadly for discreet romantic meetings or even just a casual happy hour, though its meaning varies by region, with Québec using it more for social gatherings than affairs.
Don't butter your bread!
Nibble it or use it to mop up your plate at the end of a dish. Other than with bread, be wary of eating with your hands – watch what the others do. Eating with your hands is generally considered to be bad manners in France, except in very casual settings.
They don't snack or eat “on the run”
Snacking throughout the day is considered unnecessary, which it probably is. French meals are complete (except for breakfast) and comprised of whole foods with quite a bit of fat.
The five countries with the unhealthiest diet:
The Fittest Countries: Nature-Lovers Leading the Way
Walking a Way of Life. "French women don't work out; they walk," Guiliano has told WebMD. This daily physical activity is one of the reasons they tend to be thinner. Having a car in any European city is a challenge.
It can be eaten for any meal; although the French aren't known for eating a big breakfast of bacon and eggs. They mostly consume their eggs as part of a light meal at dinner time.
FRENCH WOMEN UNDRESSED: French women are on average 138 pounds, stand five-foot-four, and have a BMI of 23.3, according to a study by e-tailer and technology provider Clickndress.com.
Lunch is often the most important meal of the day in France, with businesses and schools closing for up to two hours to allow for a proper sit-down meal. Dinner, though lighter than lunch, remains a leisurely affair, often accompanied by wine and lively conversation.
France had the smallest portion size across all three foods.
Unlike fast lunches elsewhere, the French treat lunch as a proper break. Expect a 1 to 2-hour lunch between 12:00 /12:30 PM and 2:00 PM, especially in traditional workplaces. It's a time to recharge, not to multitask. Bon Appétit!