Que signifie Manger ?

We live in a society that has encouraged a more sedentary lifestyle since the health crisis: working from home, spending more time in front of screens. Many of my patients report that their workday feels longer at home than when they are at their workplace. The stress associated with professional, academic, and student life leads many to experience mental and physical strain, chronic fatigue, and anxiety. More than ever, eating has become a complicated act. According to the national epidemiological survey on overweight and obesity conducted for the League Against Obesity, in 2020, 17% of French people were obese, and 34% of children aged 2 to 7 were overweight or obese. Eating disorders often develop, with restrictive diets used to compensate for episodes of excessive overeating. It becomes clear that all efforts to lose weight prove unsuccessful. No solution seems to address the changes in lifestyle and environment.

There's a plethora of opinions surrounding foods deemed "healthy," "bad for your health but tasty," or "harmful and therefore to be avoided." I observe in many people a feeling of being lost amidst all sorts of advice circulating on social media and in the news, advice that generates preconceived notions and influences our food choices and consumption habits. In my childhood, some fifty years ago, in Tokyo where I was born and raised, we simply ate what we liked without ever asking ourselves all these questions!

Let's try to get back to basics: rediscovering the pleasure of savoring, being present in the moment and listening to our bodies better!