How They Keep Fit in France!

There are many lock keepers employed in France
Between March and the end of October each year, the canals and waterways are open for business for thousands of holiday makers going up and down in their own boats or ones hired from specialist companies. Some lock keepers are permanently employed with a house and garden adjoining the water (that comes with the job) and plenty of fresh air and exercise as they open and close the locks all day long from 9h00 to 18h45 with an hour off for lunch.
The waterways seems to encourage exercise
All along the river and canals, we saw plenty of people enjoying their exercise whether it was walking their dogs, running, riding horses, cycling, canoeing or even playing the old French game of boules. Boules, otherwise known as pétanque, is perhaps the sport that is closest to French hearts. Similar to British lawn bowling or Italian bocce, the French version is traditionally played with metallic balls on a dirt surface beneath plane trees. The local boulodrome is a social focal point in southern France.
Smoking is the one drawback to a healthy lifestyle in France
There is one caveat to the general impression of fitness I gained in France - and that is the apparent high level of smokers. France has tougher smoking laws and taxes than it did twenty years ago when smoking was everywhere. But even so, the French are still lighting up at rates more than double that of the USA.And yet obesity is on the rise in France too
As the United States struggles to cope with obesity rates, France is often looked to as a counterexample. Yet obesity is on the rise there as well now, and though French culinary traditions are often credited with keeping people trim, some worry those eating habits are at risk.While French obesity rates are still far below those of the United States and other European countries, the temptation of the bakeries filled with French bread and pastries is hard to resist. Food is definitely part of the culture.
