We all know by now that French women don't get fat. And it seems the French government is interested in keeping it that way, what with proposed taxes on junk food and laws against images depicting too-thin models. Now the French are taking their message of health to the media and running 'healthy living' ads on TV and radio stations across the nation, as well as in print. Kind of like this one on Fitsugar, which reads 'For your health, eat at least five fruits and veggies a day.'

I think if introduced in North America, these ads would be a refreshing break from all the pizza and fast foods commercials we are bombarded with on such a regular basis. But would they work? What do you think?

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A European study has released a report on the positive health effects that have been a result of smoking bans in that region. This should come as no surprise, since cigarettes are some of the most noxious, toxic products ever to be manufactured.

More than 100,000 smokers and non-smokers took tests to measure the amount of carbon monoxide in their bodies. Since secondhand smoke can be just as deadly to non-smokers as smoking itself, it was good to see both groups included in this study.

Results of the study: carbon monoxide levels in studied smokers were four times higher than in non-smokers and were also double the amount tolerated for air pollution guidelines in most European countries. It's amazing something so small could create such health havoc, but there you are.

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European life spans are being cut short by about a year due to poor air and water quality, according to a report out of Europe's main environmental agency this week.

Changes attributed to global warming were specifically referenced in the report as well (smog and pollution), and these collective reasons were connected to an overall decrease int he average European's life span -- to the tune of year lost.

The European Environment Agency concluded that quick changes are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as increasing air and water quality or the more than hundreds of thousands of Europeans prematurely dying each year could increase, according to the 400-page report.

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Scotland's Sunday Herald has printed a fairly scathing article on our attitudes to obesity, claiming that we are far to tolerant to fatness in North America and the UK. In other parts of Europe, the writer argues, fatness would be not be as acceptable -- hence less people are obese in such countries. But in the US and UK, being unhealthily obese is perfectly ok. In her words, it is a 'comfortable' experience to be obese.

What do you think about this? On one hand, I think the writer has a point -- obesity is not as socially acceptable in Europe. In France for instance, normal-weight people like myself even feel uncomfortably large compared to the svelte Parisians. But I don't think ridiculing obese people and making them feel out of place is the answer. Still, what is?

(Via Diet Blog)

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Throughout much of history the standards of beauty have been determined strictly by economics; namely anything that signals wealth is equated with attractiveness. In the mid-to late-20th century, that ideal changed as more and more workers moved indoors. Having a tan meant that you had enough money to take time off and head outdoors for recreation.

Apparently a similar pattern can currently be illustrated by the types of models getting work with a modeling agency in Ghana. While naturally skinny girls are being sent to work on catwalks in Europe where being thin is a necessity for a successful career, they don't get work at home. The women strutting their stuff there boast some serious curves. In Africa, it's a sad fact that the vast majority of residents suffer from malnutrition and many are literally starving. Having some meat on your bones signifies that you've got enough money to eat well.

So maybe the next time you find yourself feeling envious of a beautiful but bony model (or actress) think about the reasons behind why ultra-thin it is in and decide whether or not it's worth buying into.

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