Obese Americans more likely to die in motor accidents
A new study result shows that motor vehicles can kill obese Americans 56 percent more. This risk adds to the other known risks of the obese. Because of these findings, the researchers have suggested that a new design for cars should be released in order to keep the Americans, especially those who are obese, safe and protected while on the road.
Most of the time, safety tests for motor vehicles are only done on adults with normal weight. The rate of obesity in America is gradually increasing, thus there should be proper improvements in the design of vehicles to lessen motor accidents.
According to Dr. Dietrich Jehle, a professor of emergency at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and also at the Erie Country Meducal Center, they have already recommended the manufacturers the appropriate car design and test vehicle interiors upon testing it to obese dummies. The research team said that this design is currently unavailable. Dr. Jehle added, "It would improve safety for the one-third of the U.S. population that is obese. For underweight and normal weight individuals, placing airbags within the seat belt also might be protective."
People who are moderately obese are at risk of motor accidents with a percentage of 21 percent. This is slightly lower as compared to obese people who had 56 percent rate of dying from severe motor vehicles accidents.
The researchers found the results for those who are underweight and with normal weight interesting as well. It has been found out that those who are slightly overweight have more protection with the current care safety designs. The findings were actually from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System database or FARS. This group is actually known in investigating the rates of fatality. The study shows that 155, 584 adults who are obese were actually at risk in car wreck. This included those people who were driving trucks, SUVs, vans, and other autos.