[wordup] French Secrets to Staying Slim

[Adam Shand]

Via: The Eristocracy <Eristocracy at merrymeet.com>
From:http://my.webmd.com/content/article/72/81854.htm?z=1728_00000_1000_ln_01

French Secrets to Staying Slim

U.S. and French Portion Sizes Vary Vastly

By Jeanie Lerche Davis
WebMD Medical News  	Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD
on Friday, August 22, 2003

August 22, 2003 -- How can the French stay so slim, with all those 
luscious croissants, cheeses, pastries, and sauces?

A new study brings home what's known as "the French Paradox." Despite 
France's rich cuisine, the French are decidedly slimmer than Americans. 
Only 7% of French people are obese, compared with 30% of Americans.

A group of scientists set out to investigate this phenomenon -- 
comparing French and American foods, restaurants, cookbook recipes, even 
eating styles. The French secrets to staying slim provide lessons to 
Americans on losing weight.

Sizing Things Up

Researchers weighed portions at 11 similar eateries in Paris and 
Philadelphia -- fast-food outlets, pizzerias, ice cream parlors, and 
ethnic restaurants.

* The average portion size in Paris was 25% smaller than in Philly.
* Chinese restaurants in Philly served meals that were 72% bigger
   than Parisian Chinese restaurants.

They looked at foods sold in supermarkets:

* A candy bar in Philadelphia was 41% larger than the same candy
   bar sold in Paris.
* A soft drink was 52% larger, and a hot dog was 63% larger.
* A carton of yogurt was 82% larger.

Even American cookbook recipes -- from The Joy of Cooking -- produced 
larger portions than the French cookbook, Je sais cuisiner. Larger meat 
and soup portions, and smaller vegetable portions, were in the American 
cookbook than the French.

Also, Parisians spent 22 minutes on average dining at their McDonald's, 
compared with the 14 minutes that Philadelphians spent on their burgers, 
fries, and soft drinks.

"The results suggest ... that if served somewhat less than they would 
normally eat, people may be satisfied," reports lead researcher Paul 
Rozin, PhD, a psychologist with the University of Pennsylvania. His 
study appears in the September issue of the journal Psychological Science.

Savor, Don't Stuff

Indeed, it's a cultural issue. Americans are getting exactly what they 
want -- value for their dollar, regardless of taste, says Sheah Rarback, 
RD, nutritionist and professor at the University of Miami School of 
Medicine.

They'll never lose weight that way.

The portions that are served in France -- people in this country 
wouldn't buy them," she tells WebMD. "People here wouldn't be satisfied."

It's time either to start cooking more at home, or at least eat smaller 
portions when dining out, Rarback says. "We need to get back to savoring 
the food we're eating, demanding foods that are flavorful. We need to 
enjoy the food and the company, instead of just wolfing the food down 
and barely even noticing the taste."

One suggestion: Ask for a take-out box when your meal arrives. Put half 
the dinner away immediately, even before your fork hits the plate. You 
can lose weight, one meal at a time.

SOURCES: Psychological Science, September 2003. Sheah Rarback, RD, a 
nutritionist and professor at the University of Miami School of 
Medicine. Cynthia Sass, RD, private-practice dietitian,Tampa, 
spokeswoman, American Dietetic Association. WebMD Medical News, "30% of 
Americans Are Obese."

© 2003 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.