There is a God. After decades of taunting the rest of the world with the cruel boast that the French don't put on weight despite their diet of croissants and camembert, President Nicolas Sarkozy's government has finally admitted that the chic-est people in the world get fat just like the rest of us.

In a move that promises both to debunk the myth that French women, in particular, are naturally slim and devastate foodies around the globe, the French government is reportedly planning a massive tax rise on many of the country’s favourite culinary delights.

Gallic gastronomic icons such as brie, foie gras, pastries as well as dozens of other extra fatty delicacies could be subject to a 14.1% increase in taxes as part of a bid by the French government to keep its nation fit and healthy.

The move comes two years after a government campaign to beat child obesity actually encouraged children to eat sweets.

The report, which was leaked to French newspaper Les Echos, was reportedly commissioned after senators called for a study into the feasibility of nutritional taxes. The findings remain confidential, but the paper reported that the revenue would be put towards filling a huge deficit in the French health care system.

The idea of increasing the sales tax on unhealthy food items – long favoured as staples of French cuisine - already faces stiff opposition from French Budget Minister Eric Woerth.

“It is out of the question to raise sales taxes on food products, even more so given the difficult context of the French population's purchasing power,” he told AFP.

Decreased purchasing power — caused by inflation and stagnant salaries — is a growing concern in France, as gas and food prices have shot up over the past year.

President Sarkozy's conservative government has been working on reforms to make good on his campaign promise to improve spending power.

Details of the latest report, including exactly which foods would be subject to the tax, remain to be hammered out. The findings are expected to be presented to legislators in September.

The French government has previously run ‘Get Healthy’ campaigns where posters in the Metro stations suggested people take the stairs instead of the escalators, and advertisements encouraged people to eat at least five healthy foods a day.

In March 2006 the government launched the extraordinary campaign to combat childhood obesity in which they encouraged children to eat more sweets, chocolate and crisps – but not in excess.

The campaign – which had the title Vive la Gourmandise, loosely translated as “Long Live Gluttony” - was launched on the back of a massive rise in childhood obesity in France which coincided with the massive popularity of fast food culture.

Times Recommends

• Google to digitise Iraqi artefacts
• Renault angers parents by naming new car Zoé
• Analysis: most lawless part of Philippines