Based on World Health Organization (WHO) data published in 2014, 23.9% of French adults (age 18+) were clinically obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater.
[7] Researchers have said this is caused from "government policies, a growing awareness of the dangers of obesity and the fact that children are eating less".
[4] The French connect food to pleasure and they enjoy eating, considering meals a celebration of their cuisine.
[7] In September 2005, France passed a law banning soda-and-snack-selling vending machines from public schools and misleading television and print food advertising.
[5] France also put in place 1.5% tax on the advertising budgets of food companies that did not encourage healthy eating.
[5] In 2012, the country implemented a soda tax, with rates ranging from 3.34€ to 29.09€ per 100mL of drinks, depending on the amount of added sugar, which varied from 10g/L to 150g/L respectively.
The tax applies only to beverages with any quantity of added sugar and does not include naturally sweetened drinks such as fruit juices.
[6] According to the CIA's World Factbook, France's prevalence rate for adult obesity was 21.60% in 2016, placing the country at the 87th position worldwide.