Never really noticed fat people in France...
And yet, the very title of this thread says France wishes to “battle bulging obesity levels”.
Fashion sense in France probably has a lot to do with it. I imagine that fat people in France don't wear spandex, tight tee shirts and revealing swimwear.
Appropriate dress can go a long way to improving the appearance of overweight people. I am astonished at the number of fat people in the U.S. who do not seem to understand this.
French people are much more anticipatory in fighting obesity than Americans. It if far easier to head off than cure.