Why Are Americans So Fat? An American In Paris Reflects On Body Image And "Cultural Critique"

Is increased risk of heart disease a reason for cruel jokes?

"Why are zee Americans so fat?" “You just eat zee McDonalds. I went to the United States, and there were so many FAT people.”

Ah, yes, the cherished tradition of Europeans making hilarious jokes about how fat we Americans are.

Yes, obesity is indeed a problem in America. Nearly one in three adults are obese, not just overweight but obese. And the numbers are higher for Black and Hispanic women. Obesity in America can often be traced to issues related to class, geographical location, and some would say skin color.

Contrast this with France, where obesity is relatively low at a mere 17%. However, according to an article in The Economist, this reflects a steady increase over the past twenty-some years. “Between 1997 and 2020 the share of obese French adults doubled, to 17%, or 8 million people.”

But this reflection is not about obesity statistics or the correlation between class, social status, and health. It is about the abject cruelty of mocking people, whether it is individuals or an entire society, for their body size and type.

As an elder millennial, I grew up in an era where celebrities and models were consistently ridiculed for their size. Most millennials remember when we were told that Jessica Simpson in this photo was about as fat and disgusting as one could be.

In 2011, a Daily Mail headline read, “Britney packs a paunch... Spears looks out of shape on the opening night of her Femme Fatale tour.” Growing up in a time when traditionally beautiful female celebrities were ridiculed for their weight perhaps made me sensitive to comments about weight and body type.

When someone makes a joke about “fat” Americans I can’t help but glance down, embarrassed that perhaps my thighs have spread out too much on the couch. Or maybe I reconsider that second glass of wine or serving of cheese, lest my body be one worthy of Gaulois scorn.

But, dear reader, you might say, “The food IS SO MUCH BETTER AND YOU WALK EVERYWHERE.” I walked everywhere in Chicago, NYC, and DC too, and I mostly ate salads, full-fat yogurt, baked or grilled chicken, and vegetables and worked out five to seven days per week. One of my employers had an employee gym in the basement, for God's sake.

It was a major lifestyle change for me to move here, and it has not been easy. Having my home country routinely mocked for our physique doesn’t make it easier.

Some of you might say, “But you’re being sensitive. It is just a joke.” Well, one of my French friends once told her toddler, “It is only a joke if everyone thinks it’s funny.” I am inclined to agree.

When people make fun of Americans for our supposed gross, disgusting fat rolls, what they are really saying is, “Americans have no pride in themselves, no self-control, and are fundamentally disgusting.” And what that means is that I, as an American, have no pride in myself, no self-control, and am fundamentally disgusting.

I am 38 years old. I have been working since elementary school to not hate my body. It is only in the past few years that I have been able to put on a swimsuit and look forward to the sunshine and water instead of dreading what people might think of my thighs.

So when French people and Americans looking for acceptance, chime in with how gross we Yankees are, my self-esteem clock gets turned back a few decades. And I am a 4th grader in biking shorts, awkwardly stretching her bulky sweatshirt down further to cover her tush and thighs.

I have friends and family members of all shapes and sizes. I love them for who they are. And, I know people who have struggled with their weight their entire lives. It is not an opportunity for a cruel joke.

So there you have it. For those who say, “You are policing language”…naw, sis. Anyone, French or otherwise, is welcome to make fun of fat people. They just won’t be doing it around me.