Obesity Problems

Filed in archive Weight on April 20, 2007

We've heard it over and over again. Obesity is a "growing problem." It's affecting all phases of life, including health and well-being.

Now obesity is beginning to inch its way into unexpected areas. You've probably heard about airline passengers who have to buy two tickets because they are too large to fit into one seat on the plane. How about people who, because of their size, get stuck in revolving doors. Wouldn't that be embarrassing and, yes, frightening as well.

This morning's news pointed out two new areas where weight is causing problems. From The Irish Times:

Hospital beds will have to expand with patient's growing waistbands, experts warned today. Engineers were told to consider the expanding weight and height of Irish men and women when designing new healthcare facilities.

This will put a strain on already crowded hospital facilities. The second problem won't affect the obese person, but only those who are left behind to cope with the last remains. This story from Manchester.com explains:

A report from the Local Government Association (LGA) warns that crematoriums are being placed under strain from coping with bigger bodies.

Many local authorities have found their furnaces to be too narrow to deal with wider coffins and in some areas coffins have to be transported to other crematoriums that can accommodate them.

The world is becoming "supersized" and it's costing us dearly.