Hi Kristie there is no doubt that French people are much healthier, but the French government has also some very strict rules in place re farming practice, for one. That's worth checking out.
You may find that one of the reasons they can eat baguettes, is that the grain source is also better.
Because we now live in societies where money is at the root of being in business, quality has also been sacrificed. So much of our land is toxic, which means that the narrative we once espoused about staying healthy, is often questionable.