For sure the ministers must be grumbling when forced to forego those famous French cheeses in favour of frugal servings of fish and vegetables. Rumour has it that even the odd sip of wine is frowned upon. Quelle horreur. I have spent time in France, I have French friends, I have witnessed the French attitude to mealtimes. Sarkozy is playing with fire. Dieting is anathema to the French male. But when promotion is at stake...qui sait?

The interesting point here is the shift of such attitudes into government who have enjoyed a sort of unquestioned 'slimness immunity' over the years. Outside the cosseted confines of government, slimness has always been equated with success, with ambition, with control. With the ability to be master of human cravings and desires. Being fat or overweight implied sloppy, lazy behaviour. Many studies have proved that discrimination continues to exist in the workplace with employers (such as Sarkozy) readily admitting to a preference for leaner candidates especially when it comes to employing women.

The workplace continues to be an increasingly harsh environment for overweight employees. According to a study by Tennessee State University economists Charles Baum and William Ford, obese men and women can expect to earn on average anywhere from 1 to 6 percent less than normal weight employees, with heavy women being the biggest losers when it comes to their wallet. Excruciating it may be for the larger members of our society, but think about it - can you really blame an employer who is constantly worried about burgeoning employee healthcare costs?

We have witnessed and 'voted in' a multitude of decidedly portly politicians over the years. What Sarkozy has perhaps unwittingly done is cast the subconscious seeds of doubt into our minds. We may outwardly disagree with his latest demands but will we hesitate a little longer in the voting booth? Those rotund politicians of the past were their own worst enemies and exacerbated their burgeoning waistlines with overly tight clothing and unkempt hair leading to an inevitable dishevelled appearance. Not exactly confidence inspiring. But were they incompetent? That's for you to decide.