Do French women have cellulite? I can’t answer this question with any authority. If I had to venture a guess, I would think they have cellulite (or else why would they have invented so many cellulite treatments) but not as much as their American counterparts.
The observations of this British reporter support my theory. While vacationing on the beaches of Corsica, she concluded that “French women are in on the secret. For all their caffeine-drinking, cheese-eating and excessive smoking, they are amazingly cellulite-free.” She asked one woman about it right there on the beach, and she confessed to using anti-cellulite creams to keep the dreaded blight at bay. “My mother used them, so I just got into the habit as well,” she said.
Drawing from a recent article entitled “For French Women, Beauty a Basic At Any Age” written by Ann Morrison of the New York Times, several facets of traditional French beauty wisdom are useful in the fight against cellulite. Here are the ones I found particularly relevant to our investigation (please excuse the generalizations) :
-
French women are encouraged not to neglect themselves, “not even in the tiniest detail.” This means they are more likely to notice negative changes and nip them in the bud. The fight against cellulite is much easier if it hasn’t had a decade head start. (Perhaps this explains why anti-cellulite creams actually work for French women!)
-
French women don’t torture themselves with exercise. If it’s not enjoyable, they don’t do it.
-
French women frequently “indulge” in facials, massages, and spa “cures” –even at the prescription of their doctor on occasion.
-
French women use less makeup and harsh chemicals in general. In France, the natural look is always in.
-
French women address weight gain at the smallest increase so they avoid being too far out of balance. This means they don’t have to diet. Ever!
-
French women use lotions and creams in place of soap, which tends to strip the skin.
-
“French women swear by cold water rinses” to improve circulation and bring fresh oxygen to the skin.
-
French women approach personal care as an enjoyable ritual rather than a routine obligation.
Do you think French women are onto something here? Or is the legend of a cellulite-free France nothing more than a myth?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, I haven't been to France, and so can't speak with any authority on the subject. However, a friend of mine went to the French Riviera last year, and told me she was amazed at "how fat" the French were. This friend is older (mid 60's), and EXTREMELY fit compared to people even 1/2 her age. She's also very judgmental about weight. So perhaps not the best judge of such things. Still, I guess like most people I know, she expected to see nothing but svelteness after years of hearing how the French stay miraculously thin despite their daily diet of cheese, bread and wine(stereotype, I know). She didn't mention cellulite.
Until I see for myself, I can't really say, but I do have my doubts as to the validity of the claim that French women really have any less cellulite than women of other nationalities.
Like the person who said she saw no cellulite in her Bikram class, it's all pretty situational. (i.e. I see plenty of cellulite in my bikram classes, and it's not all my own!).
I have a French friend who has lived in the States her whole life. When I launched the blog, she asked her aunt back in France about cellulite. She is in her sixties and has never had it –said her secret was eating local, organic food. I know it’s anecdotal, but French women do seem to be more cognizant of these things. I wonder how we could take advantage of the Internet to actually talk with French women about their experiences with cellulite. And women from other countries, too. Wouldn’t that be interesting?!
« bonjour » everyone, I am a French girl!!!!!, so maybe I can report on the French case (sorry if my english is not correct…French is my mother tongue!!). Of course, I don’t know if French women have less cellulite than other (the European Union doesn’t finance such studies yet…), so everything I say is from a personal point of view :
> Better eating habit: the main factor?
I just confirm what you already know is that we do have better eating habits. Few years ago, it was difficult to find processed food in super market in France (a salad is a real salad with mud on it…). We also have the chance to have weekly local street market everywhere (it s the Sunday morning activity, when you gather with your friend to have a coffee after the market…). And lastly, Eating is the biggest social activity (with friends, family, office colleague, etc). I guess in France we have a special and/or social relationship with food and eating well, it s something important (not only for health, but for your social life, so we are not orthorexic…).
> la cellulite : a French “invention”!!!
Well, it s personal analysis, but I think if you see less women with cellulite it s because there is a very low tolerance for showing it in public space. What the new York time journalist wrote about French women encouraged “not to neglect themselves” is completely true. Appearances and “decency” are important matters, and it s a very big challenge to wear a miniskirt in paris, so it s unthinkable to wear it in case you have the slightest sign of cellulite (things are changing slowly). And for the record, as you know it, cellulite is a French word (so we DO have cellulite). The first magazine to use it was Marie Claire in the 30’s, “women fat” became “cellulite” to describe what happened to women that were “neglecting themselves”……
So to conclude, French women may have less cellulite (thanks to good collective eating habits) but we are very neurotic about it (as we just invented it..). Unfortunately, there is no specific French way of treating cellulite that you don’t already know. The French press (like the famous marie Claire) is not very creative and always talking about “miraculous” machine that will solve forever the problem (journalist are just being paid to talk about a new machine, they just do one treatment and report that is fantastic…very boring, now the big trendy treatment is the “cryotherapy”, but of course no one tried it).
In my family we all have cellulite, so I am following with great interest your blog. Your holistic approach is so smart, and is giving a lot of motivation!! I have been following some of your advice and will report in the cellulite stories…..And for the last French contribution, I ve found a funy article about “the art history of cellulite”, maybe you read it already:
http://newsfromthezona.blogspot.com/2009/08/art-history-of-cellulite.html
Because we can also learn about classic sculpture while fighting against cellulite!!!
A bientot
The French girl
Dear French girl,
I’m so excited to hear your account of cellulite in France! Thank you for adding so much to the conversation! What you say makes a lot of sense. The better eating habits are difficult to deny. Processed food is almost second nature here in the States. Many people don’t even know how to cook real food anymore. The Farmers’ markets are gaining popularity, but they’re still nothing like I saw in Europe or elsewhere.
Your point about less tolerance for showing cellulite is interesting. I would not have thought of that. But that would explain why we see less of it in France. Since 90 percent or so of American women have cellulite these days, it’s not really frowned upon to show a bit of cellulite in public. I think here, it’s more accepted as “a normal part of womanhood.”
It’s also interesting to note that the media bias in favor of cellulite treatments is just as obvious in France as it is in the US. It’s no wonder we are so confused about what works and what doesn’t.
I can’t wait to hear about your anti-cellulite efforts! Yes, I did read that entry about the history of cellulite (blogged about it here). And I must thank you, because your comment gave me a great idea for the new blog design. Hopefully I can figure out how to make it happen! If so, you’ll see it soon.
a la prochaine,
Melissa
I really wish there was some way for us to study traditional cultures and find out if they had cellulite. Is this a new thing? If not, say its been around for 1000′s of years, then I think we should all quit worrying about it. If it is a new thing, then we better continue the research and find out what has changed. What are we eating, breathing, wearing etc that wasn’t around back then….?
Great blog as usual!
I agree, Heather. If we put our heads together, I think we can concoct a plan to investigate this question further. The Internet is an amazing thing! I’m thinking about launching a campaign to track down women from these cultures and interview them via email. Even if they don’t have access to email (a good sign), maybe I can contact a go-between to ask them a few questions on our behalf. Maybe a worker at a women’s health clinic or a volunteer of some sort? Let me know if you have any ideas!
Yes, they do have cellulite but people in general are less overweight, walk alot and don’t eat junk food. In my opinion, makeup and hairstyling there is less emphasized, but being well-dressed and especially being slim is very important. Also, French people seem to really believe in creams, lotions etc. and they are sold in pharmacies (mostly medical/paramedical – not like CVS), which give them an air of authority that encourages their use.
Seeing cellulite on beaches: it may depend on the beach…just as you might see a different scene in South Beach than in Gulf Shores, AL.
(This is my opinion. For what it’s worth, I’ve lived in France, I’m married to a French guy and go there at least every year).
Interesting stuff, V. Thanks for the report!
can you tell me why I don’t see any cellulite in the strippers ? in TV or in reality do they choose them cellulite free if so I have seen lots of Moroccan girls fat and not that fat looking great ! it is so amazing to see a big firm high butt and thighs I was astonished how they can keep it that why ? lots of carbs is a must in there diet +sweet + less or no exercise but the only thing I know they weekly do since childhood is sauna (Morrocan bath ) ……..
Clever observation, Lora! The sauna would likely make a big difference. Plus their food is not as industrial as many other societies. I’ve never been to Morocco, but the food in Tunisia was amazing! So much of it was naturally organic and so fresh. They are blessed with an abundance of sunshine! Plus they don’t fluoridate their water supply which I suspect makes a big difference.
{ 3 trackbacks }