Creamy Brie, buttery croissants, indulgent pastries are just part
of the French paradox. Somehow, unlike Americans, the French can indulge
in these fatty foods yet remain surprisingly thin. Now, one group of
researchers has unlocked part of mystery: beyond their joie de vivre, the
French simply eat smaller portions.
Only 7 percent of the French are obese, compared with 22 percent of
Americans. Paradoxically, the French consume more fat in their diet.
Study author Paul Rozin argues that this connection between fatty foods
and obesity is misguided. Instead, he suggests that it is more important
to look at calories, where Americans have the upper hand.
Americans eat more, Rozin discovered. He and colleagues compared
the size of portions at 11 eateries in Paris and Philadelphia, varying
from fast food to ethnic food. The average size of a French meal was 277
grams, compared with an American portion of 346 grams -- a meal larger by
25 percent.
Supermarkets also sold larger items in Philadelphia. Of the 17
items Rozin picked out, 14 products were larger stateside. For example, a
carton of yogurt was 82 percent larger in Philadelphia. A soft drink was
52 percent bigger.
Rozin explains that environment plays an important role in obesity.
"People may be satisfied even if served less than they would normally
eat," he says.
The University of Pennsylvania and the Centre National de la
Recherche Scientifique in Paris collaborated for the study, which was
published in the September issue of
Psychological Science.
