Next Generation Crash Dummies Will Be Overweight: A Reflection Of America's Obesity Epidemic

Obesity in America has become a severe public health crisis. Estimates show that more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, costing $147 billion annually in medical costs for related health issues.

Other companies are picking up on the problem. While health officials have stressed a better diet and exercise for many, it's not always possible to reach those who just won't listen. Yet keeping information up-to-date can help save lives, and that's what the company Humanetics is doing.

They crash test dummies for use in vehicle collision. Now, the average adult sized model dummies will be about 100 pounds heavier than conventional models.

Chris O'Conner, the CEO of Humanetics, noted that the original crash dummies had been marketed after a person who weighs about 167 pounds, which is considered a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) based on the dummies shape and size. Now, the average dummy will be about 270 pounds with a BMI of 35, which is considered obese by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

"Seat belts, air bags and other safety features have all been designed for thinner people and don't fit larger people in the same way. An obese person has more mass around midsection and a larger rear which pushes them out of position. They sit further forward and the belt does not grasp the pelvis as easily," he said, via the Daily Mail. 

This is not just critically important because of the changing weight of Americans. But more so that studies also show that bigger drivers are more likely to get into road accidents.