The times are changing and people’s waistlines are growing.  Obesity is on the rise and continues to be an epidemic.  So what is society supposed to do?  According to a recent article from ABC News by Liz Neporent, everything from buses, clothes, and portions are simultaneously getting bigger to accommodate larger people.  Here are just seven things which have recently expanded in response to the more than 68% of Americans considered overweight or obese.

Buses

Buses may increase the size of their seats to accomodate the overweight and obese passengers.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the Federal Transit Authority proposed raising the assumed average weight per bus passenger from 150 pounds to 175 pounds, which could mean that across the country, fewer people will be allowed on city transit buses.  The transit authority also proposed adding an additional few inches of floor space per passenger. 

Clothing

Clothing has made dramatic changes to accommodate people getting larger.  In 2008, a woman’s size 14 at the Gap fit someone with a 37-inch bust, 29-inch waist and 39-inch hips.  Today that size now fits a woman with a 37.5-inch bust, a 29.5-inch waist, and 40-inch hips.  Retail clothing stores are clever because they realize the psychological boost women feel when fitting into smaller numbers, even if they’re not the same as they used to be.  Today’s size 4 was a size 8 two decades ago.

Santa Claus

This may seem like an odd item to make the list, but Santa Claus costumes have also expanded to accommodate larger people.  In 1996, the largest Santa outfit was a 2X (at Santasuits.com), and sales of oversized suits accounted for just 12 percent of business.  Today, that same company offers a 4X, and plus-sized outfits are one-third of the business. 

Scales

Large people equals larger numbers on the scales, so this item has also recently expanded to accommodate the obese.  “Finding a scale that went over 300 pounds was nearly impossible a few years ago,” said Gary Shane, the sales manager for The Precision Weighing Company.  “Now they routinely go up to 400 or 500 pounds.”  Some scales sold by the company even go up to an astounding 1,000 pounds of body weight.  These scales also have larger platforms and support bars or arm rests to accommodate the largest of people. 

Meals

The size of meals and portions have increased significantly and is a leading cause of obesity.

It shouldn’t shock too many people that portion sizes have been growing steadily over the years and are a huge contributor to the overweight and obesity crisis.  Everything is “super-sized” now.  In a 1960s version of “The Joy of Cooking,” a brownie recipe was considered to serve 30; that exact same recipe today tells you to cut it into 16 brownies- almost double the serving size!  Today’s cookies, on average, are 700% larger than the USDA standards.  Restaurant pasta servings exceed government standards by 480%, according to New York University nutrition researcher, Lisa Young.

The Bathroom

This topic may gross some people out, but the real shock is the reality that being large can complicate even the simplest things, such as going to the bathroom.  Big John manufactures oversized toilet seats to accommodate obese customers.  They cater to over 72 million Americans by offering generously padded seats that are 19 inches wide and 2 inches taller than the standard seat.  They have a weight capacity of 1,200 pounds. 

Caskets

This is a sad one, but even caskets now have to accommodate the overweight and obese.  One funeral director in Texas has begun selling caskets up to 54 inches wide, more than double the size of a standard casket.  When Goliath Casket began producing triple-wide caskets in the late 1980s that hold up to 700 pounds, they sold an average of one per year.  Now they ship half a dozen models a month.

Some of this may be hard to believe, but the truth is, our society is quickly expanding to accommodate the overweight and obese.  Weight loss camps and programs, such as Camp Shane and Shane Diet Resorts are doing their part to teach children, teens, and adults how to live a healthy lifestyle by eating a healthy diet and exercise regularly.  It’s not too late to make a lifestyle change.  What are your thoughts on our ever expanding society?  Does this encourage the obesity epidemic to continue to grow?  Would it not make a different to people’s lifestyle either way?  We’d love to hear what you think about this one.