French people feel more overweight than ever

A study by Ifop for Darwin Nutrition involving over 3,000 people found that the French, both men and women, feel more overweight now than at any time in the past fifty years. The stomach area is of particular concern, with a desire to slim it being three times more common today (76%) compared to 1979 (28%).

Changing perceptions among women and men

Women are more likely than ever to feel too fat, with 61% currently feeling that way, up from 41% in 2001 and 36% in 1997. Men are also increasingly critical of their own bodies, with 48% now feeling too fat, compared to 33% twenty-five years ago. Women tend to develop these concerns at a younger age, with 44% of those under 25 feeling too fat, compared to 16% of young men of the same age.

Body positivity and contradictory behavior

While social media is filled with bodypositive hashtags and messages promoting self-acceptance, the study found that this does not necessarily translate into changed behavior. Among 18-34 year olds, 74% claim to support body-positivism values, but 45% of those who support it still want to lose weight before holidays, similar to the 46% who do not support the movement.

Cognitive dissonance and media influence

Psychologists describe the gap between supporting body-positivism and still wanting to change one's appearance as cognitive dissonance, where beliefs and actions conflict. The study also found that people who regularly consume beauty content are more likely to support body-positivism, despite being the same group most exposed to traditional beauty standards. François Kraus from Ifop notes that this acceptance of diverse bodies may be a shared ideal, but does not eliminate the feeling of being too fat.