I moved to France 5 years ago and have steadily gained weight, but maybe that's maybe because I live in an area that is highly populated with English people.

But from my own observations, many of the French choose to smoke and drink wine instead of eat as yes maybe there is the stigma over being overweight. But they also sit down and take their time and allow themselves to make eating an event and enjoy their food and down time. They move at a much slower pace and don't seem to do stress the same.

I think there are many factors that go into the so called French Paradox.