French frown on fast food but Brits, Americans are loving it

Are you a fast food fan?

Britons are the world's biggest fans of fast food, just ahead of Americans, while the famously gastronomic French are the least attracted to quick meals, according to a study published last week.

The survey of 13 countries also confirmed growing concern over obesity worldwide, but noted different priorities and strategies in different parts of the world for tackling it.

"People are inherently contradictory and nowhere is it more obvious than on such a sensitive and important issue as their weight," says Steve Garton of polling body Synovate, who produced the survey jointly with the BBC.

"The results show there's a world of people who cannot deny themselves that hamburger or extra piece of pizza, but probably make themselves feel better by washing it down with a diet cola."

In terms of fast food, 45 percent of Britons agreed with the statement "I like the taste of fast food too much to give it up" ahead of 44 percent for Americans and Canadians at 37 percent.

The French, long proud of their reputation for high-class cuisine, strongly disagree: 81 percent rejected the statement, followed by 75 percent of Singaporeans and 73 percent of people from Romania.

"Britons love their fish and chips," Garton says.

"French people take care of their image as a matter of course. Being thin is part of our culture and a point of pride," he says. "On top of this there is increasing awareness of the devastation obesity can cause to one's health."

Overall the obesity problem is fuelling increasing concern worldwide - although some are more concerned than others.

Fifteen percent of French people and 12 percent of Americans weigh themselves every single day.

In terms of how to shed weight there are also different strategies. Globally most people say cutting food intake is the best answer, followed by 43 percent who do more exercise.

But there are regional variations: 57 percent of Americans, 56 percent of French and 54 percent of Britons cut down on food to shed weight, while 14 percent of Malaysians opt for herbs and supplements to cut their weight.