France tackles obesity and sedentary lifestyle

September 20, 2006 – Like many other societies in the world, France is leading the fight against obesity and bad eating habits. It has also just launched its new National Health Nutrition Program to raise awareness among its population and various public and private stakeholders about nutrition problems.

“Through this program, we want to develop a real culture of prevention. It will make it possible to change behavior, to think about health on a daily basis, outside the doctor’s office or the hospital ”, indicates the French Minister of Health and Solidarity, Xavier Bertrand, in a presentation document¹ on this subject.

France is not spared from diseases linked to poor nutrition. Cardiovascular disorders, cancers and type 2 diabetes weigh heavily in the expenditure of the State Health Insurance: 5 billion euros per year (7 billion CAN $).

The situation is particularly worrying among young people. Junk food and sedentarization are wreaking havoc there: today, one in six children is overweight against one in twenty children in 1980. In underprivileged areas, a quarter of children are too fat.

Eat better, move more

To face these challenges, France has precisely adopted these new public health guidelines to encourage its citizens to adopt healthy lifestyles.².

By 2010, the French state plans, among other things, to reduce the number of people suffering from overweight or obesity by 20%, increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables and generalize the daily practice of 30 minutes of activity. physical to its population.

Commitment of the food industry

In order to achieve these objectives, actions are proposed, including a new series of communication campaigns. The intervention of various private and public actors will also be requested. The agrifood industry is also called upon to actively participate in the dissemination of educational or advertising messages intended for the population, more particularly for children.

From next February, food manufacturers will have the choice: they will broadcast messages promoting better health habits (For example: “For your health, avoid eating too much fat.”) In the advertising of their products. or they will pay a tax of 1.5% of the cost of that advertisement. The sums thus collected will be added to the funding already existing for the State’s promotional campaigns.

Food at school: aim for quality

By March 2007, nutritional standards common to all catering in schools will be defined. Already, vending machines for food were taken out of schools last year.

The French government also wishes to improve the nutritional quality of the food supply in restaurants in all its public institutions: hospitals, retirement homes, etc.

France will therefore devote 47 million euros (CAN $ 67 million) from 2007 to its new nutrition policy.

Consumption reminders¹

Fruits and vegetables : at least five a day, with each meal and in case of hungry.
Breads, cereals, potatoes and pulses: at each meal and according to appetite, favor whole grain foods or organic bread, favor variety.
Milk and dairy products: three per day, favor the cheeses richest in calcium, less fatty and less salty.
Meat and poultry, fishery products and eggs: once or twice a day, in a quantity less than that of the accompaniment.
Meats: favor the variety of species and the less fatty pieces.
Fish : at least twice a week.
Added fat: limit consumption, favor vegetable fats (olive oil, rapeseed …), promote variety, limit fats of animal origin (butter, cream …).
Sweet products : limit consumption, pay attention to sugary drinks and both fatty and sweet foods (pastries, dessert creams, chocolate, ice cream, etc.).
Drinks : Unlimited water, during and outside of meals, limit sugary drinks (favor low-fat drinks).
Alcoholic beverages : do not exceed two glasses of wine (of 10 cl) per day for women (excluding pregnant women who are recommended to abstain from all alcohol consumption during pregnancy) and three per day for men .
Salt : limit consumption, prefer iodized salt, do not salt again before tasting, reduce the addition of salt to cooking water, limit the most salty cheeses and cold meats and salty aperitif products.
Physical activity : at least the equivalent of half an hour of brisk walking each day.

Marie france Coutu and Johanne Lauzon – PasseportSanté.net

1. You can consult this document presenting the second National Health Nutrition Program of the French Ministry of Health and Solidarity at this address: www.sante.gouv.fr [consulté le 20 septembre 2006].
2. For more details on the promotional campaigns carried out in France on this subject: www.mangerbouger.fr [consulté le 20 septembre 2006].