Monday, September 27, 2010

Gym culture not working out for the French

From Reuters:

PARIS (Reuters Life!) – The French may love to look good but few are willing to work up a sweat over it.
Despite increasing awareness of the benefits of healthy eating and physical exercise, going to the gym in France is still a niche activity that has yet to capture the mainstream.
France's generous healthcare system, its cultural preference for outdoor sports and its lack of affordable good-quality clubs are seen as reasons behind the country's low rate of gym goers, even relative to laid-back neighbors Spain or Italy.
"It appears to me that more people are sitting in cafes smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee than working out ... the French don't see fitness as a lifestyle," says American-born fitness consultant Fred Hoffman, who has lived in Paris for 21 years.
Excuse me while I smirk.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

are you scorning at whom?


:D





have you seen this t-shit?
http://www.amnation.com/vfr/anti-Muslim%20t-shirt.jpg

«there's a picture of the prophet mohammad on the back of my shirt.



just kidding!...etc)



LOL

revereridesagain said...

Who knew I had anything in common with the French?

Have to draw the line at taking up smoking however. If I could afford cigarettes I'd spend the money on red wine instead. Did I mention it's good for you?

Damien said...

Pastorius,

This is not that surprising really, and not because this is France we're talking about. A lot of people don't like working out. I don't like working out but I do it anyway. Although I might go to the gym now and than if there was one really close to where I live that I could afford.