Health & Beauty

The Best-Selling Author Explains Why French Women "Don't Get Fat" Even When They Eat A Lot of Butter and Chocolate

The Best-Selling Author Explains Why French Women

By Kajal Sharma - 16 Sep 2025 04:21 PM

Have you ever noticed that French people, especially women, stay in shape despite their not-so-healthy food preferences? From bread and cheese to wine and dessert, they seem to enjoy cuisines that are generally seen as a sure-shot route to gaining weight. Yet, they rarely appear overweight. Bestselling French-American author Mireille Guiliano, best known for the 2004 book French Women Don't Get Fat, once spoke about the reason behind French women staying in shape in an interview.

Have you ever seen that French people, particularly women, maintain their physical fitness in spite of their unhealthy eating habits?

They appear to like foods that are typically thought of as a surefire way to put on weight, from bread and cheese to wine and dessert. They hardly ever seem overweight, though. In an interview, Mireille Guiliano, a top-selling French-American author best known for her 2004 book French Women Don't Get Fat, discussed why French women maintain their fitness."Because they eat for pleasure and they eat with their five senses," the author said in response to the host's question on why French ladies don't get fat. The author merely said, "No," when the interviewer inquired as to whether French ladies track calories.Mireille Guiliano went on to explain, "We eat slowly. We take our time. In between bites, we set down our knife and fork. Actually, it does this by ensuring that your taste senses are satisfied after a few bites if you eat calmly and without stress. Therefore, you don't need to eat a lot. We dislike foods that are low in fat and sugar because they don't taste good."Butter is not something that's bad for you," Mireille Guiliano continued, highlighting the importance of eating in the proper proportions. There are no health risks associated with chocolate. Duck fat is not unhealthy, but only if consumed three times a day and in large quantities, as is the case in many nations.

 

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