Death of man struck by Frontier Airlines plane ruled suicide by medical examiner
Death of man struck by Frontier Airlines flight ruled a suicide
The Guardian World1 min read
Capacity of lifts not kept up with UK obesity levels, study shows
TL;DR
A study reveals that UK lifts are not accommodating the country's rising obesity levels, raising safety concerns. Researchers found lift weight limits have remained unchanged since 2004, despite significant increases in average adult weights.
Key points
- Lifts in the UK are not accommodating larger citizens.
- Weight limits for lifts have not increased since 2004.
- Average adult weights in the UK have significantly risen since the 1970s.
Mentioned in this story
International Prader-Willi Syndrome OrganisationIstanbul
Lifts are no longer big enough to fit the UK’s larger citizens, according to researchers.
A study of maximum capacity in elevators in the UK and mainland Europe found lifts have not kept up with increasing obesity levels, raising concerns about safety and equity.
The research, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey, used photos of weight limits for 112 lifts manufactured between 1972 and 2024 in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and Finland.
Prof Nick Finer, the president and chair of the International Prader-Willi Syndrome Organisation and lead author of the study, compared the average maximum weight allowance (total weight allowance divided by maximum passenger limits) with the average adult weight in the year the lift was manufactured.
The research found that despite adults’ continued growing weight, total lift limits have not increased since about 2004. In the mid-1970s, the average British man weighed 75kg and a woman 65kg, but that has swelled to 86kg and 73kg respectively.
Maximum allowances rose from about 62kg a person in 1972 to 75kg in 2002, broadly in line with average body weight increases during this time. But most lift manufacturers assumed average weight remained at 75kg, 4kg lighter than the average adult.
“What seems to have happened is there was a shift to manufacturers calculating the amount of room you take up on the floor [rather than weight],” said Finer. “But they assume the shape of a person is an oval rather than a circle. They have completely failed to recognise that if obesity is increasing then so is the amount of room you take up.”
Most lift manufacturers have assumed average weight has remained at 75kg. Photograph: Dmitriy Moroz/Alamy
Lifts that are too small caused potential safety issues, with designs based on “flawed calculations”, Finer said. “The ability to transport people up floors in a speedy time is impacted if you can only get half the number of people in the lift that you designed them for.”
Lifts could cut out, for example, if the passengers exceeded the total weight limits. “But perhaps even more important than that is the stigma that [people with obesity] may experience on entering lifts – a form of everyday weight discrimination.”
Q&A
What did the study on UK lifts reveal about obesity?
The study found that lifts in the UK have not increased their weight limits since 2004, despite rising obesity levels among adults.
How have average adult weights changed in the UK since the 1970s?
Since the mid-1970s, the average weight of British men has increased from 75kg to 86kg, and women's average weight has risen from 65kg to 73kg.
What concerns does the study raise regarding lift capacity and safety?
The study raises concerns about safety and equity, as lifts may not be able to safely accommodate larger individuals due to outdated weight limits.
