In a recent survey by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) called Society at a Glance 2009, the French devote more time to eating and sleeping than any other nation. Wondering where the United States stands in this research study?

Sleep time: The average French person sleeps for eight hours and 50 minutes every day.  According to the National Sleep Foudnation, Americans spend 6 hours 4o minutes sleeping; that’s over a 2 hour difference between the quantity of sleep for the French and Americans.  What’s even more fascinating is that the US ranks as the second highest in hours attributed to sleep.

Eating time: Americans spend around an hour and a quarter eating every day, slightly more than only Canadians and Mexicans but less than half the eating time spent by the French. Despite this limited time spent eating, the US obesity rates are the highest in the OECD.

I guess the conclusion is that the French know how to live well! We Americans should spend an extra two hours in bed tonight

Sources: http://www.oecd.org/document/24/0,3343,en_2649_34637_2671576_1_1_1_1,00.html