Weight Loss & Diet Plans

French Women Don't Get Fat Diet Review

French Women Don’t Get Fat: What the Experts Say

First of all, let's get one thing straight, French women do get fat and the obesity rate in France is growing quickly, says ADA spokeswoman Katherine Tallmadge. "French Women Don't Get Fat, like many other diet books, is a frustrating blend of real insight, shaky science, and sheer speculation."

Tallmadge, a weight loss counselor in Washington, D.C., points out that Guiliano is not a nutrition or weight loss professional and even though she doesn't claim to be, bases her advice on personal experiences and observations of life in France.

Some recommendations in French Women Don't Get Fat are right on target, like walking for exercise, weight training for women over 40, and eating vegetable soup. "Eating soup with lots of vegetables has been found to help reduce calorie intake naturally," says Tallmadge, author of the diet book Diet Simple. However, Tallmadge notes scientific evidence does not support the author's claim that leeks have a magical quality to cause weight loss, nor does chocolate contain serotonin, the feel-good neurotransmitter.

"I disagree with the recommendation to start dieting through a semi-fast of primarily leek soup because, while it will cause weight loss, it is not nutritionally adequate and it is not a solution to help people learn about habits that can be sustained long term," Tallmadge says.

Additionally, some experts suggest that the real reason many French women may be thin is because they smoke cigarettes to curb their appetite.

French Women Don’t Get Fat: Food for Thought

French Women Don't Get Fat could be a helpful weight loss approach for women who love fine food, wine, and chocolate and want the flexibility and options to eat what they like.

With this plan, knowing that no food is off-limits could be very empowering to some as long as they can control portion sizes and the majority of food they choose is nutritionally sound, like vegetable soup and low-fat yogurt.

"People get bored on diets and go back to their eating habits, which are why diets don't work" says Guiliano. Her approach is simple: don't deny yourself favorite foods; simply learn -- over time -- to enjoy smaller portions.

Assuming that eating slower and more mindfully really will lead to recognition of satiety, weight loss with the French Women Don't Get Fat plan should occur slowly but surely. Becoming satisfied with smaller portions is the trick to making this plan work.