Why French People Aren't Fat

There has been a lot of discussion and speculation around this issue and even some books published on the subject, but speculate no more. I have the answer, and it isn't eating smaller portions or walking a lot or any of those other theories. It's because they ALL smoke.

OK, so this is my one rant about Paris: everybody smokes . . . everywhere . . . all the time. I would love to know whether the rate of deaths from lung cancer is higher in France than in the US. Now that would be an interesting fact, not whether we are fatter than they are.

I swear you could get lung cancer just from inhaling the secondhand smoke on the street. If you are sitting in a cafe and the people next to you aren't smoking, chances are they aren't French but German or English or American. Even in the little crepe restaurant, Le Joslin, I saw a few people smoking, and this is after the French have passed a law banning smoking in restaurants. Generally, I sit outside but sometimes even that is an issue because the people all around me are smoking.

Sometimes, in the evening, my apartment smells like smoke, and I'm sure it's because everyone in the building is home from work and puffing away. Thank goodness I can open my windows. Yesterday, I got in the elevator at the AF with a very attractive man but who cares? He reeked of cigarette smoke.

I saw an article recently about how French children are getting fatter (probably eating American junk food). Well, don't worry. As soon as they turn 16, they will be able to buy cigarettes and take care of that weight problem.

(It's amazing how intolerant of smoke I've become since the US now restricts indoor smoking to such a great degree. I remember when people could smoke on airplanes, buses etc and how awful it was.)

With my apologies to anyone out there who still smokes, I am as always, very truly yours.