With Mayo Clinic nutritionists Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.

Two recent news reports caught my attention.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to ban new fast food restaurants from opening in south Los Angeles. It appears that this area of town already has 12.5 fast food restaurants every square mile. The council cited health and social issues (similar reasons are often used to zone liquor stores).

On the other hand, in Paris, hamburgers are now the "in thing." Chef after chef commented on how the taste is forbidden and subversive — so everyone wants it. Chefs are busy analyzing the gastronomic characteristics of the American burger — including soft sesame buns, pickles, onions, tomatoes and cheese. It appears that some chefs have even come to the United States to experience the "burger culture." The French are having it "their way" though:

• with pickles, fleur de sel (sea salt) and fresh thyme
• wagyu (Kobe) beef with black ketchup (made with blackberries and black currants)
• topped with foie gras
• with a sesame bun, toasted on the sesame side, brushed with butter on the soft side
• with smoked bacon, lettuce, pickles, mustard, mayonnaise and a side of fries (for $56 US)

In 2002, the United Nations' World Health and Food and Agriculture Organizations met jointly to address the global obesity epidemic (now termed "globesity"). Worldwide there are more than 1 billion overweight adults, with at least 300 million deemed obese. It is thought that the obesity epidemic is driven by societal changes and behavioral patterns of communities — along with worldwide nutrition transitions, globalization of the food market, and reduced physical activity. Some scientists predict globesity will outstrip infectious disease deaths by the end of the decade.

It's interesting that while Los Angeles is exiling fast food, Paris seems to have welcomed the signature fast food item (le burger). To me, this is a pretty good example of what the WHO/FAO describe as changes in societal and behavioral patterns of communities — with the high-fat burger making the worldwide nutrition transition.

These examples offer glimpses of a human conundrum. What we want might not be what's good for us. It will be interesting to see how this plays for the svelte population of France.

What are your thoughts?

P.S. In April, France's parliament adopted a bill that makes it illegal for any form of media, including Web sites, magazines and advertisers, to promote extreme thinness. But this is another story.

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• Food & Nutrition Center

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