France has a big problem
2005-11-23 09:34
Paris - More than half of French adults either smoke, are alcoholic or are too fat, according to a study released on Tuesday by the state-run National Statistics Institute (Insee).
Obesity and surplus weight is the biggest problem in a land often regarded as home to slender models and svelte waiters, with 40% of adults falling into that category, as calculated on World Health Organisation formulae.
Nearly one in four smokes daily, and 7% have an "excessive" intake of alcohol, said the study, carried out in 2003 on 21 000 people aged 18 and over.
Men are the ones inflicting the worst on themselves. Three-quarters are estimated to be at risk from at least one of these factors, identified as causes for premature death, compared to 56% of women.
Worse, it seems Frenchmen increase their risky behaviour as they get older, with 84% putting their lives on the line by overeating, overdrinking or smoking.
The study's authors found that one man in three smokes daily, one in two is carrying too much weight and one in 10 likes to knock back excessive liquor.
For women, one in five cracks open a pack of cigarettes per day, one in three is carrying too much weight, and one in 30 could be classed as alcoholic.
Not surprisingly, the best-educated among both men and women were the least at risk for smoking and fat. But they are also among the most likely to uncork two (or three) bottles of wine too many.