The changing cses and cervices of obesity

Obesity is gaining ground worldwide, which requires changes in many areas of daily life (transport, health, etc.) following up on sometimes surprising statistics.

The size issue

According to a study in The Lancet, more than half of the adult population on the planet and over a third of young people will be obese by 2050. But for several years already, the figures and evidence in daily life have demonstrated the need for change in a number of concrete situations. If the clothing industry has already shifted its sizing to a larger scale, airline and rail transporters are also facing the issue of passengers whose security and wellbeing is compromised by the width of regular seating. Companies such as Ryanair offer the option of reserving several seats for greater comfort, while Air France features the Saphir service which allows heavier passengers to book two adjacent seats at a reduced rate.

Other leisure activities are also concerned, with many theatres mentioning the width of their seats on their websites, and FIFA underlining in its welcoming guide that specific seats must be provided to ensure a comfortable viewing for overweight spectators.

Changes in sizing are also occurring in environments dealing with health and safety. The format of ambulances, stretchers and hotel beds must be suitable for all patients. In the United Kingdom, the NHS invested over 40 million pounds to adapt infrastructures and equipment to suit the requirements of patients facing obesity. Undertakers have also underlined the evolution of sizing in coffins and mortuary chambers to fit the changing body shapes…

For better and for worse

A Polish study has confirmed the results already observed in 2024 by Chinese scientists: marriage is a factor in weight gain, especially in men. Their risk of obesity is increased threefold when compared to a single man. The figures remain almost identical for wives and single women, however. Scientists underline the importance of tracking the evolution of diet and lifestyle throughout changes in life, but also the need to treat these two domains differently when it comes to men and women.