How French Women Stay Slim

This is one of the questions I get asked the most: how do French women stay slim? Indeed, France is a country where you find boulangeries with mouth-watering pastries at every street corner and cafés where Parisians linger for hours. It’s a place known for rich desserts, baguettes made from refined flour, foie gras, fatty meats, and wine. And despite a predilection for cheese, croissants, and pain au chocolat, regular French women don’t get fat. It’s been called the French Paradox, with France having the lowest cardiovascular disease deaths in the world while the French diet is relatively rich in saturated fats. Some of that’s down to the French health system, of course, but lifestyle definitely contributes.

The clichés about French women is true: the French are generally thin. According to a British study (The Lancet, 2011) using the BMI (body mass index) as a criterion, French men are the thinnest in Europe with a BMI of 26. French women come in second and are ahead of the Swiss, tied with the Italians with a BMI of 25. And while obesity is increasing everywhere, including in France, French people are not getting fatter at the same rate as other nationalities. In America, in 2021, the obesity rate will be 36%, while in France, it will be 21% (source). France is, therefore, one of the slimming champions among the big rich countries, far ahead of the United States, Australia, and Canada. However, it is not immune to the increase in global obesity that researchers are seeing.

For years, the question of how French women stay slim has been asked. And you may be tempted to chalk this up to the unhealthy French habit of smoking. Yes, the prevalence of tobacco among French females is significantly higher than among American women. In France, in 2021, the female smoking rate is 25%, whereas in the US, it’s only about 15% (source). It’s been proven that, on average, smokers weigh less than non-smokers. So, it could be easy to conclude that chic Parisian women stay slim because they smoke more than their American counterparts.

But the myth that cigarette smoking keeps you thin is incorrect. Indeed, all smokers are not skinny, and heavy smokers tend to weigh more than light smokers, according to a 2018 study by the International Agency for Cancer Research. Also, an increase in cigarettes smoked per day was associated with a larger waist circumference and more abdominal fat (source). As a French woman myself, I’m not smoking, and my BMI is about 20. The truth is that several factors play into the reasons French women stay slim without trying. Keep reading below to learn about the ten healthy lifestyle habits that contribute to this.

1. French Women Walk Everywhere

French women walk a lot and way more than a typical American does. Indeed, about 65% of French people walk briskly 7 days/week, whereas only about 50% of Americans walk briskly 5 days/week (source). This helps to burn off calories and fat, keeps muscles toned, and keeps your mind engaged, too. The French lifestyle is pretty active. And this is especially true in cities like Paris where you can walk a lot. Having a car in Paris is a challenge. As a result, few people actually own cars, so it’s easy to sneak in your daily exercise by walking the streets or commuting using the city’s easily accessible bike-share system.

I know it’s not so easy if you don’t live in a big city and must walk to get groceries or to work, so I suggest getting up 10 minutes earlier in the morning and going for a walk or doing an indoor walking workout; at lunch go for another quick walk, and after dinner does the same. Aiming for at least 30 minutes of walking daily will make you see and feel a difference.

Also, the workout culture in France is quite different from the United States. The French value athletic activities in general, and instead of doing exercise programs to lose weight, they exercise because they enjoy it. Most French people can name at least one regular physical activity they do, be it yoga, working out at the gym, hiking, biking, dancing, football (soccer), etc. However, they are usually never doing high-intensity and high-frequency exercise programs, which are often unsustainable and lead to failure. The French are doing exercise because they enjoy it, not because it’s something they have to do to stay slim.

2. They Don’t Deprive Themselves

Incredible food and wine are essential parts of French culture (and the French diet). French women are known to enjoy rich foods and wine, which means they don’t have to deprive themselves of the foods they love. By committing to small serving sizes and really savoring every bite, French women are able to enjoy the foods they want. You can try the 80/20 rule: if you eat healthy 80% of the time, you can treat yourself 20% of the time. This allows you to indulge in a delicious dessert because you have already given your body a healthy, nutrient-rich meal.

3. They Eat Smaller Portions

One of the most mystifying things about slim French women is how they stay so thin in a country that’s obsessed with food. Another secret to the French secret of slimness is portion control. French women don’t deprive themselves of the good, rich food their country has to offer; they eat small portions. If the food is high quality, well-prepared, and delicious, you don’t need a lot of food to feel full. Here are a few tips to help you eat smaller portions without realizing it:

• Use smaller dishes at meals.
• Serve food in the right portion amounts, and don’t go back for seconds.
• Any leftovers should be stored in separate, portion-controlled amounts. Consider freezing the portions you likely won’t eat for a while.
• Never eat out of the bag or carton.
• Don’t keep platters of food on the table; you are more likely to “pick” at it or have a second serving without realizing it.

4. French Women Eat Real Food

Another thing that might help French women to stay slim is that they don’t believe in processed foods (cereal, white industrial bread, soft drinks, cookies, etc.). Instead, they go for natural, whole foods from the local markets and farmers. In France, you won’t find aisle upon aisle of diet food products in French grocery stores. Indeed, the French prefer whole and full-fat products that are typically less processed and usually contain less sugar, which is added to low and nonfat products to enhance their flavor. It may seem counter-intuitive to eat full-fat cheese if you’re trying to follow a diet, but the truth is, if you’re eating whole foods, you’ll feel full faster, which means you’ll eat less of it.

5. They Shop Fresh Foods From Local Markets

One thing Americans can learn from the French is the value of neighborhood food markets. Refrigerators in French households are small, and food storage is uncommon. French women buy their food daily or every few days; that is why bakeries, butchers, and neighborhood fresh food markets are all around France. Fish is from the local fish market, meat is from the local butcher, and fruits and vegetables are from the local farmers. Not only does this ensure their food is as fresh as can be, but buying them from the local market also ensures that they’re getting seasonal items.

6. They Don’t Snack Between Meals

The French hardly ever snack outside of meals. Snacking (or “le grignotage”) isn’t a thing in France, as meals are extremely regulated. People tend to eat at the same time every day (which varies according to each person’s schedule, work hours, etc). Go to a grocery store in France and check out the snack aisle – it’s tiny compared to grocery stores in the United States. Snacking is also admonished by the French government. Indeed, it requires all advertising for fast food and snack products to include a warning. One of those warnings is: “Pour votre santé, évitez de grignoter entre les repas,” which suggests that snacking between meals is an unhealthy habit and causes weight gain. If French women get hungry between meals, they tend to opt for unsweetened yogurt, a piece of dark chocolate (at least 70%), or oleaginous fruits.

7. French Women Savor Their Meal

The truth is that several factors play into the reasons the French are able to stay slim. But what matters isn’t only the food itself, but the way it is eaten. The French don’t rush through a quick breakfast in the morning and don’t lunch at their desks or standing in the street. According to a study conducted by the OECD, French men and women spend over two hours a day eating and drinking, double the time spent by Americans, the quickest eaters and drinkers in the OECD (source). 

Eating in France is still very closely linked to a national heritage of consuming good food for pleasure and not only for necessity. For the French, a meal is a very particular moment, in which you share pleasure, the food as well as the conversation. It’s also a time for families and friends to enjoy time together. Eating in France is a social activity.

Traditionally, French people take a long lunch, and food is savored rather than bolted. And we know now that eating slowly is associated with less intake and lower weight, as it gives your gut more time to send your brain chemical messages telling you’re full.

8. They Drink Lots Of Water

70% of the French drink less than 1 glass of sweetened beverage per day compared to 37% of Americans (source). You are less likely to see a French woman walking around with a giant soda than a giant bottle of water. In France, water is the main source of fluids. The French know sweetened beverages (including fruit juices and diet soda) are unhealthy as they contain too much sugar. One of the easiest ways to lose weight is to stop drinking soda, diet soda, fruit juices, and any sweetened coffee or tea. If you feel you’re not drinking enough water during the day, you can try drinking organic herbal teas.

And no, French women do not drink red wine every day! As a French woman, I rarely drink alcohol; I drink one glass of champagne at Christmas or for birthdays and one glass of wine every now and then at dinner with friends. If you’re interested in resveratrol (for its incredible anti-aging and longevity properties) contained in red wine, I would suggest taking a resveratrol supplement. Note that blueberries, cranberries, and the skin and seeds of red grapes also contain resveratrol.

9. They Start Good Habits Early

A 2020 study conducted by Ifop for the European Fraîch’Fantasy found that 2/3 of French people cook almost every day. What is really interesting is that the oral and/or written “culinary transmission” by parents and grandparents is the predominant factor in favor of the practice of cooking. Indeed, 83% of those who used to cook at least once a week with their parents are now cooking every day.

French children establish mindful eating habits early on. They learn to enjoy and eat fresh, seasonal foods in small portions. Children participate in the choice of homemade dishes, the ingredients used in cooking at home, and the cooking of meals in general. This trend among parents today is accelerating, as 84% say they cook with their children.

The French have some food traditions that are passed from generation to generation. You’d be hard-pressed to find a French woman who doesn’t cite her Maman or Grand-Maman as the ultimate cook influence. Proof of the reality of this “culinary transmission” is that 78% of French people say they have recipes that they get from their parents or grandparents.

10. They Make Feeling Good Their 1st Priority

Another thing that might help French women stay slim is that they know they don’t have to suffer to be beautiful. Any kind of wellness ritual is pointless if it makes you miserable (check out my guide to self-care). And when you feel good, you look good. That is why French women prioritize pleasure as the key to healthy living. In terms of food, truly enjoying what you eat will leave you satisfied and content. By maintaining a diet where you eat nourishing foods that you enjoy and make you feel good while also allowing yourself the occasional indulgence, you avoid a state of deprivation.

Et voilà! I think each of these tips is a really healthy way to approach eating and living, and something you can adopt into your life, no matter where you live.