Study: Time for Fat Crash Dummies

Obesity brings higher risk of death in car crashes: study
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 22, 2010 1:27 PM CST
Study: Time for Fat Crash Dummies
A Sept. 12, 2007 file photo shows a man dressed as a crash test dummy at the 62nd International Auto Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany.   (AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle)

Obese people face a much higher risk of death in car crashes—so doctors say we should be building overweight crash test dummies, the Daily Mail reports. A study of more than 150,000 US car crashes found that moderately obese people were 21% more likely to die in car crashes than people of normal weight, and morbidly obese people faced a 56% higher risk.

Those with the lowest risk of death were slightly overweight people—not those of normal weight, the study, published in the American Journal of Emergency Medecine, found. “Crash test dummies have saved lives,” said a researcher, “but they are designed to represent normal-weight individuals.” He added that obese people would benefit from wider adjustable-seat ranges and should purchase cars with more space for the driver.

(More obesity stories.)

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